Police in Bayelsa State on Tuesday said investigation has commenced into the abduction of the Operations Manager of Sterling Bank, Mrs. Nneka Enuka UgoAnochie, by unknown gunmen.
The victim was abducted last Friday on her way to the office around Kpansia axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.
Addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Romokere Ibani, said: “On the 16th of June, at 8.00am, four armed men dressed in military camouflage, operating with a red Lexus jeep, abducted Mrs. Nneka Enuka UgoAnochie along Otiotio Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area while driving to her office.
“The police were alerted, and we embarked on a rescue mission, but the kidnappers abandoned their vehicle and whisked away their victim; the vehicle with registration number BWR 552 AW was recovered on East-West Road, and we have intensified our efforts in ensuring that she is rescued unhurt.”
It was gathered that the victim had been warned several times to relocate from her area of residence, which is adjacent to the residence of the arrested celebrated kidnappers, John Ewa, aka John Lyon, and Emmanuel Agase.
Operatives of Operation Puff Adder and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Ondo State Police Command were said to have provided security to her residence but the arrangement was altered after she complained about the cost of logistics.
A police source, who was not authorized to speak on the matter, disclosed that the victim had been warned to be vigilant until the state government approved the seizure of the building owned by the arrested kidnappers.
The source also said the victim’s abduction may be linked to remaining members of the celebrity kidnapper’s gang.
The source said: “We warned her to relocate for some time because our intelligence report showed that she was being monitored to be abducted.”
