A Bayelsa State security outfit known as Operation Doo Akpo, and the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta have foiled an attempt by gunmen to kidnap 73-year-old Madam Nwokoya on Monday.
The septuagenarian is the mother of a Personal Assistant to the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.
According a reliable security source, the special security outfit and the JTF troops were said to have engaged the kidnap gang in a gun battle leading to the arrest of one of them, while others were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds.
Madam Nwokoya is said to be the mother of Innocent, a marine engineer working closely with the minister.
It was learnt that the security operatives and youths of Famgbe community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area, where the incident occurred.
Gunshots were said to have unsettled the residents of the area while the gun battle between the security operatives and the kidnappers lasted.
It was further learnt that the gunmen stormed the residence of the elderly woman about 3am and went straight to her bedroom.But unknown to them, their would-be victim did not sleep in her room that night.
The Youth Leader of the Community and Chairman of the State Information Management Committee, Spiro Jack, was said to have sighted them and contacted the security operatives.
“They were desperately searching each room in the house before the security operatives confronted them in a shootout,” a source who pleaded anonymity said.
When contacted on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.
“It happened. Some gunmen had stormed the Famgbe community in an attempt to kidnap the mother of the PA to the Minister of Petroleum resources.
“The security operatives operating on a tip-off, laid ambush for the gunmen and engaged them in a gun battle. While one was arrested, others escaped with bullet wounds,” he stated.
