Gunmen Kidnap Health Workers In Rivers

Punch reports that the health workers, four medical doctors, a pharmacist, one dentist and a nurse, were said to have been taken away by their captors at about 11pm on Saturday in Okolomade community.
Residents in the community informed newsmen that the unknown gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed the community with AK-47 rifles and shot sporadically to scare away indigenes before going for their victims.

A member of the community also informed that the gunmen came in two speed boats and escaped with the health workers through the waterways in the area.
It was gathered that the incident caused confusion in the area as some members of the community, who ran into the bush to avoid being killed, only returned the following morning.
The kidnapped health workers were in Okolomade community for the NDDC Free Medical Outreach Programme, a source said on Tuesday, 2 September, 2014.
According to the source, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NDDC, Dr. Itotenaan Ogiri, who is a member of the community, invited the health workers to render free healthcare services to the community for three weeks.

The gunmen were said to have went away with mobile phones belonging to those living around the building where the doctors and other health workers were lodged.
However, as at Tuesday’s night, the kidnappers have not called to demand any ransom.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, and the Head Corporate Affairs of NDDC, Mr. Ibitoye Abosede, were unable to be reached on the matter as at press time.