n Port Harcourt, Rivers State, gunmen thought to be kidnappers have kidnapped a female journalist named Mrs. Priestba Anthony Nwokocha.
On Friday, July 21, 2023, around 8 p.m., Priestba, a director of news at the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC), was kidnapped along the Slaughter/YKC route in Port Harcourt as she was returning from work.
Her automobile reportedly broke down on the highway, so she called her husband, who then showed up with a mechanic to fix the car.
As her husband and the mechanic watched, the kidnappers arrived and took her away.In a statement released on Saturday, DSP Grace Irengi-Koko, the State Police Command’s spokesperson, confirmed the occurrence and added that CP Nwonyi Emeka Polycarp, the commissioner, had directed an investigation into the kidnapping.
According to the statement, “The CP has mandated tactical teams to ensure she regains her freedom and is reunited with her family members.”
The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the kidnapping of a member of their organization and urged the security services to ensure her prompt release.
The act was referred to as inhuman, evil, and callous, especially towards a journalist working for the betterment of society, according to a statement jointly signed by Stanley Job Stanley, Chairman, NUJ Rivers State Council, and Ike Wigodo, the Secretary.
The statement thus requested the state’s security services to guarantee Mrs. Nwokocha’s unconditional rescue so she may get back together with them and carry on serving society.
In order to act as a deterrence to other criminals in the state, the Union further ordered the security services to ensure the apprehension of Nwokocha’s kidnappers and bring them to justice.
The statement praised CP Nwonyi, the state’s commissioner of police, for enhancing security during the previous three months and urged him to keep up the good work.