Rivers Speaker kidnapping 2008
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, has recalled how he survived a five-day kidnapping ordeal in 2008 during the height of militancy in the Niger Delta.
Speaking at a security summit in Port Harcourt, Oko-Jumbo said he was abducted on his way home by armed men who kept him in a remote creek community until his release.
“It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I spent five days in captivity, unsure if I would make it out alive,” the Speaker recounted.
He explained that the experience has shaped his passion for security reforms and peacebuilding initiatives in Rivers State, stressing the need to address youth unemployment and arms proliferation in the region.
Security experts say his testimony highlights the dangers faced by political figures during the peak of militancy and underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to stabilize the Niger Delta.
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