•Businessman kidnapped in Port Harcourt

Gunmen have again kidnapped 72-year-old Chief Inengite Nitabai, a first cousin and foster father to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The septuagenarian was snatched away from his residence in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday.

Nitabai was first kidnapped on February 23, 2014 during the administration of the ex-President.

His first abduction attracted attention as the Federal Government activated all security networks within the Niger Delta region to rescue him.

After spending over two weeks in the kidnappers’ den, Nitabai was rescued on March 13, 2014, by the police, which claimed no ransom was paid to the abductors.

The 2014 operation was carried out by10 armed men, who stormed Nitabai’s expansive compound at about 9 pm and took him away without firing a shot.

Another attempt to abduct Nitabai was also made by a gang of kidnappers, whose operation was foiled by the police.

It was gathered that the latest incident at 3:30 am was carried out by seven gunmen.

An uncle to the victim, who spoke in confidence, wondered how the gunmen managed to abduct the septuagenarian, who enjoyed the protection of two police guards.

Alleging insider collaboration, he asked the police to begin their investigation with the people around the old man.

“I woke up this morning to hear that my uncle, who is the head of former President Jonathan’s compound, has been kidnapped. It is disheartening that he has fallen into the hands of kidnappers again.

“It was by divine intervention he survived the first abduction. We are appealing to his assailants to release him unconditionally”, he said.

Details of the abduction were sketchy yesterday. Sources said the gunmen might have entered Nitabai’s residence from the creek behind his compound.

Police spokesman Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

He said: “A massive manhunt have been launched by a team of Marine Police and Anti-Kidnapping Unit, to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors. Investigation is on.”

Amid sporadic gunshots, a businessman, who owns Jossy Class Super Store at No. 9, Abakaliki Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State was kidnapped yesterday.

Jossy, whose full name could not be ascertained as at press time, is a wholesale and retail dealer of wine, alcoholic and soft drinks, in a shop not far from the Mile One Divisional Police Headquarters.

The businessman was kidnapped around 5 p.m. by some young gunmen, while sitting in front of his shop with friends and associates, with his aides attending to customers.

The kidnappers, who came to Jossy’s shop in a black saloon car, picked their target, pushed him into their steaming car and zoomed off to an unknown destination, while shooting sporadically, to avoid confrontation in the densely-populated area.

Rivers police spokesman Muhammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he had not got the details from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mile One divisional police headquarters.