Kidnapped NTA News Manager Released

The Assistant Manager, News and Current Affairs, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), channel 6 in Aba, Abia State, south-east Nigeria, Chinyere Okoye, has reportedly regained her freedom.

Though information about her release was still sketchy, a report monitored on The Nation by Naija News, says she regained her freedom on Friday morning.

The report said the NTA News Manager was said to have been released on Friday after operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police tactical units of Abia State Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) stormed the kidnappers’ den.

Naija News understands that the report quoted a source close to Mrs Okoye, to have said that after her release, the NTA News Manager was taken to the SARS facility in Aba, where she was later joined by her family members and friends.

According to the report, the rescue operation was coordinated by the SARS Commander in the state, Johnbull Obioguru and heads of other police tactical units. The source added that the police team acting on information stormed a compound in Mgboko, Obete in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state and cordoned off the area.

The source disclosed that the police team, after cordoning the place stormed the house where the kidnapped NTA staff was said to have been kept by her abductors and rescued while the owner of the property where the NTA staff was kept was arrested.

The Nation quoted the source to have said that there was no exchange of firearms and that the kidnappers may have abandoned the woman in the compound as a result of the pressure coming from the security agents that were already closing up on them.