George Matthew Ela, a medical doctor in the employ of the Rivers State government, has narrated how officers of the Nigerian Navy rescued him from the hands of abductors. He said God did a miracle in his life during the one-hour exchange of bullets between his abductors and officers of Nigerian Navy, who, he said, rained several bullets on the kidnappers’ vehicle in which he was blindfolded.
Dr. Ela, who was kidnapped about a month ago at Chinda Street, off Ada-George Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was released the same day after being handed over to the police for investigation.
Ela told Niger Delta Report that he had no problem or disagreement with anybody before he was abducted.
He said: “I cannot remember anybody that I will say I am having problem or quarrelling with. So, I don’t know who is after me. A lot of people who know me can attest to it that I am very simple and gentle medical doctor. I have no business with people than my humanitarian service, which is my contribution to humanity. “
Ela said he came to Chinda Street to pick his mother-in-law in the morning when he was picked by his abductors.
He said: “I don’t reside at Chindah but came to the area to pick my mother-in-law. We had an appointment I was supposed to take her somewhere that morning. That was why I left home on time, when I got there. I parked at the road waiting for her to join me at the car.
“Surprisingly, the next thing I saw was two haughty armed men demanding that I should give them my car key. Of course, I did. They dragged me out of my car and pushed me into their car. They quickly blindfolded me; that was when I realised that they were not after my car or to rob me of the little cash I had but to kidnap me.”
He said at that point he thought life had ended, considering the kinds of arms at the kidnappers’ disposal.
At this point, I was not seeing anything. I was only using my brain to calculate where they are taking me to. But barely 15 minutes after my abductors zoomed off, I had them saying reverse: ‘Police! Police.’ That was how I sensed that police were after them but I didn’t know it was Navy officers. Then I had a siren; even when the gunmen entered inside the street, I also noticed because I could sense the turning of the car. A minute after the turning of the car, I heard a gunshot released by my abductors, which made the Navy officers to retaliate in a full force. There was a steady raining of bullets on the vehicle and I was still inside the car. Then, I laid flat on the vehicle and I also sensed that there is a confusion and scamper for safety by my abductors. After that, I noticed I was alone in the vehicle blindfolded. Even at that, I didn’t know what to do next but I really know they jumped out of the vehicle but I tried to be careful before stepping out of the car.
“When the gunfire ceased, I came out of the car with my two hands up; it was then I found out men of the Nigerian Navy were in a convoy when my abductors ran into them. They untied me and took me to Navy Base where I was interrogated, of course, for them I was a suspect. But before they took me to Navy Base for interrogation, my wife has already contacted the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, my colleagues and friends in the state. So, that made the interrogation a bit easy because those contacted by my wife started calling the Navy and the police identifying me as a medical doctor before I was handed over to the police for further investigation.”
Dr. Ela said as an Adventist he would continue to serve the God for rescuing him from the hands of enemies. He added that his escaped, especially in the hand of death was demonstrated when he came out alive from a vehicle that was hit several with bullets. He also said his escape is a miracle and a way God may have decided to reward him for his contribution to humanity.
Ela, who is also the founding President of Edogh Abuan Development Association, said: “I think with what has just happened to me, we will be more proactive, especially in the area, holding seminars and enlightenment programme for the youths because we cannot depend on government in everything. Something has to be done, especially in Rivers State where political crisis has made many youths to be violent-minded. The government, family and the society must contribute their own quota to minimise crime in the society. The youths are going astray and nobody is talking. Those who got the opportunity to lead us in this country must be creative to provide employment to the teeming youths of this country. The parents on their own must look after their children while they are growing up and try as much as they can to give them the basic education and I believe this will reduce crime in the society. I want to use this opportunity to thank the Navy officers for saving my life.”
