A lecturer at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (Ken-Poly), Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, James Finwe, has regained his freedom six days after unknown gunmen abducted him.
He was abducted at his residence in Igwurutali, Ikwerri Local Government Area of the state on January 11, 2021.
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the institution, Prince Nwiyo, confirmed his release, adding that he was released unconditionally by his abductors.
Nwiyo noted that the pressure put on the security agencies by the Rivers State Government and the union yielded results and lauded Governor Nyesom Wike and the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, for their efforts in ensuring the early release of Mr. Finwe.
“I had to put a lot of pressure on the police, especially the officer in charge of anti-kidnapping, who assured me that in no distance time, he was going to be released and I was very happy to hear that my colleague has been released.
“I want to thank the Rivers State government for the pressure that they mounted on the security agencies. I am thankful to the commissioner of police, especially the officer in charge of anti-kidnapping, who kept to his words to ensure that his men work assiduously to ensure the release of Mr. James Finwe,” he stated.
The Ken-Poly ASUP chairman said though the kidnappers had demanded an undisclosed sum, Finwe was released unconditionally without ransom.
He also asked for protection for lecturers in the state, hinting that the amount Finwe’s kidnappers were demanding (though undisclosed) was shocking.
“The kind of money that kidnappers are looking for, I don’t think there is any lecturer that has such kind of money. We are civil servants.
“I want to advise those that are still in the business of kidnapping that crime is no longer lucrative because the commissioner of police and the governor of the state have vowed to fight criminality to a standstill.
“I want our brothers, who are still in, to withdraw from such a business because they will meet their doom in no distant time,” the ASUP chairman said.
