Abducted female journalist regains freedom after seven days in Rivers

A female journalist and Director of News, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, (RSBC), Priestba Anthony Wokocha, has been released after seven days in kidnappers’ den.

Gunmen abducted Wokocha on her way from work, last Thursday, after her vehicle broke down at about 8:00 p.m. and she alighted to fix it.

The Guardian learnt that she was taken to an unknown destination and her abductors called four days later to demand N150 million ransom, which was later reduced to N10 million.

Her husband, Anthony Wokocha, disclosed this when Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), in Rivers State, paid him a solidarity visit.

Director of Administration RSBC, Ebi Ogolo, yesterday confirmed her release to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Also, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development upon enquiry.

She said: “Yes, Mrs. Priestba has been released. The police are doing their best to ensure a crime free society.”

Meanwhile, journalists in the state under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), who earlier condemned the kidnap of their colleague, have expressed joy over her release.

The state’s chairman of NUJ, Stanley Job, and his NAWOJ counter pact, Susan Serika, who thanked God for her release, said the anxiety on both unions has relaxed.