Troops Rescue Nigerians, Foreigners Abducted Off Coast of Gabon

Expatriates kidnapped in Gabon and Nigerian negotiators held
captive have been rescued.

They were freed on Saturday in Tombia, a creek in Bille
waterways, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victims included six Chinese, three Indonesians, one
Gabonese and four Nigerians that had gone to facilitate their
release.

Men of the 29 Battalion, Nigeria Army with support from local
vigilante, took part in the operation.

Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion, Lt. Col. Mohammed Yahaya,
spoke to reporters at the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Bori Camp in
Port Harcourt.

The officer disclosed that a ransom of $300,000 was paid before
the military intervened.

“As they were about bringing them out of the creeks, they had
issues that made them even susceptible to kidnapping again.

“Men of the 29 Battalion, under the 6 Division, in conjunction
with local vigilantes launched an operation and were able to rescue
them.

“They have a trolley, Socipeg, registered in Gabon. It was in
the course of their fishing activities that they were kidnapped,”
Yahaya said.

All the former hostages were handed over to the Department of
State Services (DSS). The agency will carry out further
investigation.

Expatriates kidnapped in Gabon and Nigerian negotiators held
captive have been rescued.

They were freed on Saturday in Tombia, a creek in Bille
waterways, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victims included six Chinese, three Indonesians, one
Gabonese and four Nigerians that had gone to facilitate their
release.

Men of the 29 Battalion, Nigeria Army with support from local
vigilante, took part in the operation.

Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion, Lt. Col. Mohammed Yahaya,
spoke to reporters at the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Bori Camp in
Port Harcourt.

The officer disclosed that a ransom of $300,000 was paid before
the military intervened.

“As they were about bringing them out of the creeks, they had
issues that made them even susceptible to kidnapping again.

“Men of the 29 Battalion, under the 6 Division, in conjunction
with local vigilantes launched an operation and were able to rescue
them.

“They have a trolley, Socipeg, registered in Gabon. It was in
the course of their fishing activities that they were kidnapped,”
Yahaya said.

All the former hostages were handed over to the Department of
State Services (DSS). The agency will carry out further
investigation.