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 (the second photograph below) 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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