Gunmen have freed Channels TV energy correspondent, Olu Philips, one
of the station’s cameraman, Polynus Odedeyi and 13 other journalists
that were kidnapped in the Niger Delta creek over the weekend. Story
below from Channels TV
“Channels Television’s energy
correspondent, Olu Philips and cameraman, Polynus Odedeyi said they were
returning from an official assignment when they were abducted. They had
gone to cover an event at the Ogedengbe Gas Plant in Warri, Delta
State.
President Goodluck Jonathan was earlier expected to commission the
$16 billion export processing zone project, but the event was
called-off.
In a telephone interview, Philips (pictured
above) spoke from the Naval base in Warri, Delta State, recounting
their experience in the hands of the kidnappers.
He said that the crew had boarded a boat on
their way back to town after covering an event when they were accosted
by the kidnappers off the creeks of Gbaramatu in an area called
Escravos, in Delta State’s riverine area.
“Around 11:00am, we saw another speed boat
coming behind us. They were about six boats. They caught up with us,
asked us to stop and surrounded us.
“They had guns with them and they asked us
where we were coming from and we told them we went there to cover an
event. They said we were spies and they collected our camera and put it
in another boat, after hitting the camera man.
“They made some calls and decided to take us to Gbaramatu. They took us to a High Chief popularly known as Tompolo.
“They beat up some other persons that were
not journalists. After beating them, they handed them a rifle with three
magazine and asked us to stand behind them that we were criminals and
that they saw the rifle and pistols with us. They took photographs of us
and were posting it on the internet that we were all criminals, Philips
said.
According to him, the abductors made several threats that they will kill and throw them into the river.
He further said that they were held hostage
till about 6-7pm before some Naval officials arrived and they were
handed over to them.
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