Police rescue two kidnapped NDDC officials after fierce gun battle

In a daring rescue operation, operatives of Operation Puff Adder, led by DSP Chris Nwaogbo, have successfully freed two top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who were kidnapped on Friday while traveling by river to Ayakoro community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The victims, Akari Loveday, Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and his brother, Emmanuel Nathan Ogbuku, were abducted in what sources described as a well-coordinated attack by unidentified gunmen.

According to senior police sources, the rescue mission was a result of intense pressure mounted by a tactical team comprising operatives of Operation Puff Adder, the Drone Team of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, a private drone company (Ability Security Services), and personnel from the Nigerian Navy (NNS Soroh), who provided river coverage with gunboats.

Sources close to the police rescue team revealed that security forces and the kidnappers engaged in a high-speed chase through the creeks and rivers of Ayakoro, extending into the Onuebum-Eboi and Otuogidi forests.

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The coordinated efforts of security operatives, vigilante groups, and local intelligence networks played a crucial role in tracking down the assailants.

“On Saturday, the youths and vigilante groups from Ewoi and Otuogidi provided critical local intelligence. The Paramount Ruler of the Ewoi community also prevailed upon the youths and vigilantes to support the security forces in rescuing the abducted NDDC officials,” a security source disclosed.

The intense operation culminated in a dramatic confrontation at Ayama Burial Ground, where the kidnappers, overwhelmed by the firepower of security operatives, abandoned their captives and fled.

The gunmen reportedly attempted to navigate through the dense Bayelsa forests but seemed unfamiliar with the terrain, leading to their retreat.

The operation was further reinforced by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, who joined the Operation Puff Adder team in their relentless efforts to secure the victims’ safe release.

Following their successful rescue, the indigenes of Ayakoro community erupted in jubilations as DSP Chris Nwaogbo and his team arrived with the freed NDDC officials.

The heroic efforts of the police operatives have been widely commended, with many hailing the operation as a testament to the effectiveness of security collaborations in tackling criminal activities in the region.