Professional divers and Marine Police on Tuesday stepped up efforts at rescuing company workers, including an expatriate, whose vehicle plunged into the Okulu River in Rivers State.
Reports said the vehicle involved in the incident is a Hilux Van as the driver tried to manoeuvre and escape from some kidnappers who were giving them hot chase.
It was gathered that the kidnapping gang had targeted the Van along the Eleme section of the East-West Road to execute their evil and criminal enterprise.
However, in the process, the Van’s driver reportedly lost control of the situation and plunged into the River as the suspected kidnappers’ attempted to stop them.
Eyewitnesses said though frantic efforts were made by emergency officials and local divers in the rescue operation, the vehicle and its occupants were still trapped in the River on Tuesday afternoon.
Available reports also indicated that the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Brain Gokpa, had immediately mobilised and deployed a rescue team to the incident scene on Tuesday,
Confirming the incident, Hon Gokpa pleaded with the operatives of the Nigerian Navy and rescue agencies to assist in rescuing the workers and retrieving the vehicle.
This is as the Marine Police and professional divers were said to have been deployed to the scene to boost the rescue efforts already on ground
The Council Chairman while promising to empower more personnel to boost the rescue efforts and apprehend those responsible for the untoward incident, further expressed his commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property in the area.
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, visited the incident scene, and lauded the emergency workers involved in the rescue operations.
According to the Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, efforts are being intensified to bring to book all those responsible for the unfortunate incident.
Forefront News learnt that kidnapping, other related crimes and road crashes are regular occurrences on the road due to its deplorable state.
