The Ijaw Youth Congress’ claim that it was responsible for the rescue of the three Dutch nationals from their abductors in Bayelsa State has been faulted by the police.
Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Hillary Okpara, Monday described the IYC’s account has faulty.
Prompt News recalls that the IYC had in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Eric Omare, claimed that the Ijaw Youth Leader and Businessman, Mr. Negerese Berry led the rescue operation based on the two days ultimatum issued by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, Comrade Udengs Eradiri.
He however commended the efforts of security operatives in the state in the rescue operation.
Addressing reporters on the issue, the State Commissioner of Police, Hillary Okpara, insisted the IYC’s claim does not hold water.
According to him, the Police worked with available information from the indigenes of the coastal communities and exhibited high level professional policing including engaging a negotiator to locate and free the three kidnapped Dutch.
Okpara, described the operations that led to the freedom of the Dutch as delicate, adding that the aim of the operation was to rescue them hale and hearty.
The Police boss said the three Dutch nationals were released on Saturday in the creeks of Ezetu in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the State and not Ekeni community as earlier claimed.
He further disclosed that he brought the victims to his office in Yenagoa at about 10pm and handed them over to the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) after debriefing.
Opara, thanked those who supplied useful information that led to the men’s rescue.
His words, “the police were able to rescue the victims after mounting much pressure on the assailants.
“The police employed a negotiator to engage the abductors in discussions in order to determine the state of health of the victims.”
“From the negotiator, we were able to establish that the people were still hale and hearty while we continued with the undercover policing.
“After locating the hideout of the kidnappers in the creeks, the police moved to the area and barricaded it with gunboats. When we found out where they were, we blocked all the exits in the waterways that would have led to their escape with our gunboats. So, they had no place to go again. They had no alternative than to release them”.
“Right from the time they were kidnapped on the 4th of May, the command has been involved in intensive undercover policing to locate where they were and know the identities of the kidnappers.
“We made many trips in the water and we were able to know some of the identities. It was a delicate operation because our aim was to rescue them hale and hearty. It is not something you begin to go and exchange fire. It was professionally done”.
