Police Rescue Kidnapped Hotelier Shot Thrice Despite Ransom Payment

In a daring rescue operation, the Rivers State Police Command successfully freed Mr. John Sunny, a prominent hotelier, who had been abducted and shot three times by gunmen at his residence in Artillery, Port Harcourt.

Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu revealed details of the harrowing incident during a media briefing at the Command Headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. The victim, Mr. Sunny, was kidnapped on December 19 and endured 18 days in captivity with untreated gunshot wounds before his rescue on January 6.

Despite the family paying a hefty ransom equivalent to N25 million in dollars, the kidnappers callously refused to release Mr. Sunny. The victim’s relatives, who had been handling the situation privately, decided to involve the police on December 30, seeking professional intervention.

The police, led by the C4i Intelligence unit, began working on the case. An encounter with the kidnappers earlier in the month saw them escape, prompting the criminals to change the colors of their two operational vehicles. However, the police managed to recover both vehicles.

On the discovery of the kidnappers’ location in the Agbonchia-Oyigbo forest in Eleme Local Government Area, a successful rescue operation was executed on Tuesday morning. During the operation, an exchange of gunfire occurred, resulting in one kidnapper being injured and subsequently receiving medical treatment.

The police recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with 44 rounds of live ammunition, and the two operational vehicles used by the criminals. Commissioner Disu highlighted the peculiar ransom method employed by the kidnappers, who demanded payment in dollars placed inside food flasks.

Mr. Sunny, now safe, has been taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The police expressed confidence in bringing the escaped kidnappers to justice, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring the safety of the public.

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