THE Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the release of a director in the State Board of Internal Revenue, Aribibia Fubara.
Fubara was kidnapped on Saturday, August 24, at the Okrika Waterfront, near the Marine base area of the state capital – Port Harcourt.
Reports confirm that Fubara was released by his abductors around midnight on September 5, on a small Island near Bonny. He reunited with his family the following day, September 6.
A family source, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed to Cable News that a ransom of ₦15 million was paid to secure Fubara’s release.
Fubara spent 12 days in captivity before regaining his freedom on Thursday.
In a chat with The ICIR on Monday, September 9, the spokesperson for the police command, Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko confirmed Fubara’s release.
“Yes, he has been released and has been reunited with his family,” she stated.
On whether ransom was paid for Fubara’s release, Iringe-Koko claimed she was not aware of any money paid for his release.
She however promised to give more details on the release later.
The ICIR reported in January 2024 that the spate of kidnappings across the country was at an alarming rate.
The ICIR gathered that over 380 persons were kidnapped between December 1, 2023, and January 3, 2024, across Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu.
According to data obtained by The ICIR from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data bureau collecting data on the locations, dates, actors, fatalities, and types of all reported political violence and protest events worldwide, those abducted include men, women, farmers, children, and students.
The victims were taken hostage at various events that happened during the last month of 2023 and the first week of the new year, illustrating the escalating number of kidnapping cases in the country.
Affected states include Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, FCT, Kaduna, Kastina, Kogi, Lagos, Nassarawa, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance