Our reporter
A tragic incident unfolded on Monday night in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, when Dutch expatriate Gibson Reuben, the Managing Director/CEO of Rivers State Cassava Industry Limited, drowned in the Okulu River after his vehicle plunged into the water.
The incident occurred while Reuben was attempting to flee from suspected kidnappers who ambushed his convoy on the East-West Road.
Reuben, who was travelling in a Toyota Hilux van, was reportedly fleeing when the attackers opened fire, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which skidded off the road and into the river beneath the Okulu Aleto Bridge. The bridge, which connects Port Harcourt with the Ogoni communities in Akwa Ibom State, is currently under reconstruction.
The search and rescue operation, which involved a team of divers, Nigerian Navy personnel, and police officers, led to the recovery of the victim’s body along with the wrecked vehicle after several hours of painstaking efforts. The operation was overseen by the newly appointed Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, Olugbenga Adewole, who joined the emergency responders at the scene.
Local residents expressed their anger and frustration over the ongoing security challenges in the region, particularly the rising frequency of kidnapping incidents. Many took to social media to mourn Reuben’s death, with veteran journalist Emmanuel Obe sharing a photograph of the scene on Facebook, sparking widespread condemnation of the attack.
The authorities have yet to confirm the exact identity of the kidnappers as of the time of this report.
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