NDDC Staff Rescued In Bayelsa After 3 Days In Kidnappers’ Den

In a daring rescue mission, operatives of Operation Puff Adder, under the command of CSP Chris Nwaogbo, successfully freed two kidnapped employees of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who were held hostage for three days. The victims were abducted last Friday while traveling by river en route to Ayakoro, a community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State—the hometown of NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

Rescued NDDC Staff Identified

Among those rescued were Akari Loveday, Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the NDDC Managing Director, and Emmanuel Nathan Ogbuku. Their release was secured after an intense security operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies and local vigilante groups.

Joint Security Effort Led to Successful Rescue

A senior police source disclosed that the operation was a coordinated effort by the tactical team of Operation Puff Adder, the drone surveillance unit of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, a private security firm—Ability Security Services, and personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh, who deployed gunboats to secure the river passages.

The police and the kidnappers engaged in a high-stakes chase along the Ayakoro creeks and through the dense Onuebum-Eboi and Otuogidi forests. The criminals eventually abandoned the captives at the Ayama burial ground after an intense gun battle.

Local Vigilante Groups Aided the Rescue

The success of the operation was also attributed to local intelligence provided by the youth and vigilante groups from Ewoi and Otuogidi communities. The Paramount Ruler of Ewoi played a pivotal role in rallying the local security groups to support the police in tracking down the kidnappers and securing the release of the hostages.

Jubilation in Ayakoro Community

Residents of Ayakoro erupted in celebration when the police team, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, returned with the freed NDDC employees. Their safe return marked the end of a tense three-day ordeal that gripped the community with fear and uncertainty.

The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in the Niger Delta region, where kidnappings for ransom have become prevalent. Authorities continue to urge local communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security forces.

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