Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr.
Freddy Ndigbara, kidnapped by gunmen eight days ago, has been released by his
captors.
Ndigbara was kidnapped in his community, Kaani in Khana Local Government
Area last Saturday while preparing for the All Progressives Congress ward
rally.
The kidnappers stormed the rally ground where Ndigbara was supervising
the mounting of canopies, went for him and forced him into a waiting Toyota
Highlander vehicle.
Ndigbara’s wife, Joyce, said on Saturday that her husband was
blindfolded by his captors for many days before he was released.
Ndigbara’s abductors had established contact with their victim’s family
and allegedly demanded for a N100 million ransom.
Speaking at the Government House Clinic where her husband was admitted,
Mrs. Ndigbara explained that the governor’s aide was allowed to go without
removing the blindfold from his eyes.
Though she could not explain her husband’s ordeal in the hands of the
kidnappers, she pointed out that some indigenes of Nwawi community in the same
Khana Local Government Area saw the kidnap victim and removed the blindfold
from his eyes.
“He (Ndigbara) was blindfolded for many days. Even when he was allowed
to go, he was still blindfolded and left around the bush in Nwawi community.
Some members of the community saw him and rescued him,” she added.
Ndigbara’s wife, who was taking food to her husband at the Government
House Clinic in Port Harcourt, told our correspondent the just-released
governor’s aide was not yet stable as a result of the ordeal he went through in
the hands of the kidnappers.
“I am happy that my husband has been released. We thank God for His
mercies. My husband is not stable now, but I know he will soon be alright,” a
much relieved Mrs. Ndigbara stated.
Earlier, the former Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr.
Blessing Wikina, said in a telephone interview that Ndigbara was tortured by
his captors before being released.
The nurses at the clinic did not allow visitors and journalists who
thronged the place to speak with Ndigabra or have a glimpse of him.
Tags
Crime