Yenagoa—A member of Friends of Mary Missional Sisters Congregation sect of the Catholic Church, Rev Sister Mary Providential Nkeiruka Okoli, who was kidnapped in Bayelsa State has been rescued in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, by operatives of Department of State Services, DSS, after 17 days in captivity.

Rev. Sister Okoli, a 300 level Biological Science student of Niger Delta University, NDU, Amassoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was abducted on May 21, at about 4p.m., along Tombia-Amassoma Road by unidentified gunmen, while returning from Amassoma.

DSS OPEARTIVESState Director of DSS, Mr. L. B. Baba, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the victim was rescued in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on June 6.

He said the rescue operation continued until June 6 and that at about 3:50am, the rescue team closed in on the kidnappers in their hideout.

Baba said:”For fear of being killed or arrested, the kidnappers fled and abandoned their victim in an uncompleted building around Itu Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, where the operatives rescued her at about 6: 25a.m. same day”

The command, according to him, has launched a manhunt for the kidnappers and has intensified investigation to unravel the circumstances of the kidnap.

He warned kidnappers and other criminals to steer clear of the state in their own interest, adding that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, was working with the state government to fight crime and criminality, especially kidnapping, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and cultism.

He also called on the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that would help fish out criminals, assuring that the identity of informants would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

The victim, who looked exhausted, told newsmen that she was blindfolded by her captors and driven away to the kidnappers den in far away Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

She thanked the state com-mand of DSS for rescuing her.

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