Police foil attempted kidnap of expatriates at Bayelsa govt house hotel

Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday foiled an attempted abduction of some expatriates by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, who had stormed the Castle Hotel, located inside the State Government House, Onopa, Yenagoa.

The gunmen, who came in with sophisticated weapons, were said to have stormed the hotel to abduct the Chinese expatriates lodging in the government-owned guest house.

It was gathered that the kidnappers had gained access to the building through the River Nun channel at the back of the Government House; but in a display of bravery and courage, one of the expatriates was said to have deployed his skills in martial art to disarm a member of the gang.

The expatriate was said to have hidden in a dingy corner of the building to hit one of the gunmen who cried out in pains and forced other members of the gang to start sporadic shooting.

The gunshots were said to have attracted police operatives, who raced to the scene and engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle.

It was learnt that the kidnappers later fled the scene abandoning their rifle.

A security source, who spoke in confidence, described the action of the kidnappers as daring.

A Bayelsa Government House source explained that the kidnappers gained access into Castle Hotel in Government House, explained that the kidnappers attempted to abduct one of the contractors handling government projects in the hotel but were resisted by security operatives.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the state command, Asinim Butswat, said investigation was going on.

The police PRO said, “On the 11/06/2016, at about 2350hrs, gunmen attacked the Expatriates Quarters, at Onopa, opened fire on the security personnel on guard, in an attempt to abduct the expatriates.

The security operatives fired back and the gunmen withdrew, abandoning their assault rifle. They escaped through the waterways in a speedboat. Manhunt for the gunmen have been intensified, investigation is ongoing.”

In his reaction to the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said he, “I was in Government House very late last night and I did not receive any report of any kidnap. I will have to cross check from the security and get back to you.”