Lawyer Paulette Bisola Ajayi, who was kidnapped last week in Rivers state, has spoken out after she was rescued by the police earlier today.

An employee of the British High Commission, Paul Nyulaku, was also rescued in the operation.

The pair were kidnapped on Sunday at different parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital and whisked away to a forest in the state by members of the same gang, who demanded ransoms from their families.

Speaking out after her release, the Port Harcourt based lawyer, stated that her abductors raised the ransom for her release from N50 million to N300million, after news about her abduction went viral.

Paulette Bisola Ajayi sharing her ordeal with newsmen said;

“I am a Lawyer. I was kidnapped in the presence of my family members. I was taken to where I don’t know. As soon the news of my Kidnap went viral, the Kidnappers increased their ransom demand from N50 million to N250 million and then N300million. They threatened to kill me if the ransom was not paid before I was rescued.”

She expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Mukan, President of Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, Olumide Akpata, and all those who made it possible to ensure her timely release.

Confirming their rescue to newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, said operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit in a sting operation rescued the duo at Okomoko forest in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

Mukan said one of the kidnappers, Chinedu Chigbu, 39, was fatally injured during the shootout and later died in a hospital while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

“Their camp was immediately destroyed. Exhibits recovered from them include one AK47 rifle, a fully loaded magazine and 100 rounds of live ammunition. Efforts are on to arrest members of the gang.

The public particularly residents of Etche and Eberi-Omuma LGA are hereby enjoined to increase their security consciousness and report anybody with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station” Makun said

Bisola Ajayi
Rivers State