TheCable

Men of the Bayelsa state command of the Nigerian police force have rescued the two expatriate construction workers abducted by unknown gunmen in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa.

Asinim Butswat, spokesman of the command, told NAN that the Lebanese were freed on Thursday following massive crackdown by combined security forces in the area.

“The two Lebanese, Ibrahim Abi Phrem and Sarkis Abi Chimooni, all male, were kidnapped on June 24, at Ogbia local government area,” he said.

“They were rescued at Okodi in Ogbia riverine community on 25 June 2015 where they were abandoned by the kidnappers due to massive manhunt by police.

“They are hale and hearty and have been reunited with their families. Efforts are being intensified to arrest the kidnappers.”

On Wednesday, about eight gunmen stormed Onuegbum community and shot repeatedly into the air to scare passersby and other dredging workers in the area.

The two policemen, who were attached to Pache Construction Company, where the abductees work, responded with gunshots, but got overpowered by the gang.