The Police Command in Rivers has confirmed the death of Managing Director of the Rivers State Cassava Project Limited, a Dutch, Gibson Reuben drowned after his vehicle plunged into the Aleto-Eleme River while attempting to escape from his abductors.
The tragic incident happened on Monday night.
While Reuben lost his life, the mobile police personnel accompanying him managed to escape from the river.
The Rivers Police command spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Iringe-Koko stated that the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
“The unknown gunmen ambushed Rueben’s vehicle, forcing him to lose control and plunge the white Toyota Hilux van into the Aleto-Eleme River.
“Fortunately, the mobile police personnel accompanying Rueben managed to escape from the river,” she said.
Iringe-Koko stated that a search party was immediately dispatched to locate and rescue Rueben.
“The search party eventually recovered the expatriate’s lifeless body along with the vehicle,” she added.
The police image maker said that CP Adepoju has since visited the crime scene and assured the public that the culprits would be apprehended and brought to justice
Iringe-Koko appealed to the public to provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.
The deplorable Eleme-Refinery-Onne Road, which is undergoing reconstruction, has become a hotspot for kidnappers and armed robbers.
Due to the deplorable state, vehicles and pedestrians travelling at night are often targeted.