Police Rescue Bayelsa Woman After 26 Days in Kidnappers’ Den

The Bayelsa State Police Command has rescued a 42-year-old woman, Sarah Chinedu, after she spent 26 days in captivity following her abduction in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Chinedu, an indigene of Ebonyi State, was reportedly kidnapped on July 28, 2026, in Amassoma. She was assisting her husband with the sale of phones and mattresses when suspected kidnappers stormed their phone shop under the guise of wanting to purchase an item.

The victim was rescued unharmed during an early-morning operation conducted by operatives of the Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.

Briefing journalists on Sunday, August 23, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, said the victim was found at a kidnappers’ camp in Ogobiri Forest, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

According to the police commissioner, intelligence gathered through digital and local sources helped investigators track the suspects and monitor ransom negotiations between the kidnappers and the victim’s family.

The gang initially demanded a ransom of ?100 million but later reduced the amount to ?20 million. The kidnappers also reportedly collected ?1.5 million from Chinedu’s husband, allegedly for “refreshments.”

Adewale said VCRU operatives spent five days operating within the difficult terrain of Ogobiri Forest before launching the final assault on the kidnappers’ hideout.

The operation was carried out at about 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, resulting in the safe rescue of Chinedu and the arrest of a suspected kidnapper identified as 33-year-old Mark from Akenfa 1 community.

The suspect has reportedly confessed to his involvement in the abduction and provided investigators with details of how the gang allegedly carried out the operation.

According to the police, the suspects had monitored the area and observed that the victim was not adequately protected before abducting her from the shop.

“She was put in a vehicle and moved to the riverside, where she was ferried to the camp,” Adewale said.

The Commissioner of Police commended the officers involved in the operation, particularly those who endured challenging riverine conditions while tracking the suspects.

The successful operation brings an end to the woman’s 26-day ordeal and highlights the police command’s continued efforts to track down kidnapping gangs operating in the state’s difficult riverine and forest environments.