Gunmen have freed Channels TV energy
correspondent, Olu Philips, one of the station's cameraman, Polynus Odedeyi and
13 other journalists that they 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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