A Netherlands citizen, Gibson Reuben, drowned when his vehicle plunged into the Aleto-Eleme River while attempting to escape from his abductors on Monday night.
The deceased was the Managing Director of the Rivers State Cassava Project Limited in Rivers State.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
Iringe-Koko said the state’s Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju, has launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
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She said: “The unknown gunmen ambushed Rueben’s vehicle, forcing him to lose control and plunged the white Toyota Hilux van into the Aleto-Eleme River.
“Fortunately, the mobile police personnel accompanying Rueben managed to escape from the river.
“A search party was immediately dispatched to locate and rescue Rueben.
“The search party eventually recovered the expatriate’s lifeless body along with the vehicle.”