Police rescue woman after weeks in kidnappers’ den in Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Police Command successfully rescued a 42-year-old woman, Esther Chinedu, who had been held captive for nearly a month. The victim was abducted on July 28, 2026, from her phone shop in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, by individuals posing as customers.

Commissioner of Police Ajao Adewale announced the rescue, stating that the woman was found unharmed in a hideout in Ogumbri Forest. The police were alerted to the abduction shortly after it occurred and immediately launched an intelligence operation. This involved tracking the kidnappers' movements and monitoring their ransom negotiations with the victim's family. The abductors initially demanded N100 million, but later lowered their demand to N20 million.

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They surveyed the environment and saw that the woman was not sufficiently protected. They abducted her, put her in a vehicle and moved her to the riverside, where she was ferried to the camp.

Operatives from the command’s Crime Response Squad spent five days in the Ogumbri Forest, closing in on the suspects' camp. The raid, which took place in the early hours, led to the victim's safe recovery and the arrest of a 33-year-old suspect. The arrested individual reportedly confessed to his role in the abduction, detailing how the gang approached the victim under the guise of buying food before abducting her and transporting her by boat to their camp. The operation involved multiple police units, including the Federal Criminal Investigation Unit and the Marine Department. The police commissioner commended the officers involved and acknowledged the logistical support provided by the Bayelsa State Government.

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I have been in Bayelsa for the past 20 years. I have not had anything kidnapping in Ama