PORT HARCOUR: A white Toyota Hilux believed to be owned by a company has skidded into Okulu Aleto Bridge in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State while attempting to escape from suspected kidnappers.
At press time, Tuesday, it was gathered that the Hilux was conveying a Whiteman and other occupants when the incident happened, Monday night
A source in the area said a company convoy was attacked close to the bridge by some armed hoodlums and that the driver of the white Hilux had attempted to race off for escape when the vehicle ended up in the Okulu River.
Although the Aleto bridge is undergoing reconstruction, the bridge which is on the East-West road that connects Port Harcourt with Ogoni communities as well as Akwa Ibom, has been in bad shape for a long time now.
It was gathered that the bridge has remained a death trap after vandals removed its railings.
It also learned that it was the deplorable state of the bridge that aided the easy access of the vehicle into the river.
Vanguard further learned that there is a kidnap gang that anchors by the river to kidnap people on that bridge and ferry them away through the river to an unknown destination.
Meanwhile, the source in the area said the search and rescue operation team was mobilized by the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Brain Gokpa, Tuesday morning and that the search operation has been on.
The source, who preferred anonymity, noted that the victims were moving in a convoy of company workers when they were ambushed by armed hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers and in a bid to evade the ambush the van plunged into the river.
The source said the search team comprising men from the Nigerian Navy and other rescue agencies late on Tuesday found the van and one of the occupants dead
However, at press time, the search operation is still ongoing to fish out other occupants of the Hilux van.
Meantime, the new commissioner of Police, Mr Olugbenga Adewole, led the police team to the scene while the operation was on and commended the local government chairman for his efforts so far.
(Vanguard)