Police rescue woman after nearly a month in Bayelsa kidnappers’ den
A 42-year-old woman, Esther Chinedu, was rescued by the Bayelsa State Police Command after being held captive for almost a month. She was abducted from her phone shop in Amassoma by suspected kidnappers who initially demanded a large ransom. CP Ajao Adewale led the operation that resulted in her safe recovery from Ogumbri Forest. The ordeal involved ransom negotiations and significant emotional distress for her family.
What happened
- Esther Chinedu was abducted on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from her shop in Amassoma by kidnappers pretending to be customers.
- The kidnappers initially demanded N100m, later reducing the ransom to N20m, with the victim’s family managing to pay about N1.8m in total.
- Police tracked the kidnappers to Ogumbri Forest and rescued Esther Chinedu unhurt, arresting one suspect identified as Mark from Akemfa 1 community.
- The rescue operation involved the Crime Response Squad, the Federal Criminal Investigation Unit, and the Marine Department, with support from the Bayelsa State Government.
- Both Esther Chinedu and her husband described the captivity and negotiation period as extremely difficult, but expressed gratitude to the police for her safe return.
