Rivers: Expatriate, Workers Feared Dead After Vehicle Falls Into River While Fleeing Kidnappers

A tragic incident unfolded on Monday night along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, Rivers State, when a vehicle, attempting to escape suspected armed kidnappers, lost control and plunged into the Okulu River.

According to The Nation, the Toyota Hilux van, carrying an expatriate and several workers from an undisclosed company, veered off the Eleme Bridge and fell into the river.

There are concerns that both the vehicle and its occupants may still be submerged.

In response, a rescue team was swiftly mobilized by the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Brain Gokpa, who visited the scene on Tuesday morning.

He called upon the Navy and other emergency agencies to assist in the search and recovery operation.

Specialized divers and marine police were deployed to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts. However, by 11 am on Tuesday, neither the vehicle nor its occupants had been located, according to a local source.

The new Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, arrived at the scene and praised Gokpa for his prompt action.

Gokpa assured that additional personnel would be deployed to intensify the rescue mission and to track down the assailants responsible for the attack.

Reports from locals indicate that the bridges in the area have become increasingly vulnerable to vandalism, with criminals removing railings.

This vulnerability has previously allowed armed criminals to attempt kidnappings on the bridge, using the river as a means of escape.