The Managing Director and CEO of Rivers State Cassava Project Limited, Mr. Gibson Reuben, tragically lost his life while fleeing an attempted kidnapping by unknown gunmen at Aleto Eleme Bridge in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Monday around 8.30pm when the Toyota Hilux van carrying Mr Reuben, a Dutch expatriate, left the road and plunged into the river during the escape.
The mobile police personnel escorting Mr. Reuben managed to escape.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Rivers State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the tragic development.
The statement revealed that the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, visited the scene, accompanied by the Area Commander, Eleme, Divisional Police Officers within the Eleme Area Command and tactical units of the command.
The Command's Marine Unit later recovered Reuben's lifeless body and the Toyota Hilux van from the river after an extensive search operation, the statement said.
The statement read: “The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, has visited the scene of a gruesome attack on the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State Cassava Project Limited, Mr. Gibson Reuben, an expat from the Netherlands.
“The incident occurred on Monday, January 13, 2025, at around 8:30 p.m. at the Aleto Eleme Bridge, where unknown gunmen ambushed Reuben's vehicle, causing it to lose control and crash into the river.
“Fortunately, the mobile police personnel accompanying Reuben managed to escape, but the Hilux van and Mr Reuben's body were submerged in the water.
“A search party led by the Marine Unit of the Command was formed to rescue the expatriate, who was also the driver of the Hilux van.
“The search party's efforts resulted in the recovery of the lifeless body of expatriate Mr Gibson Reuben and the white Toyota Hilux van.”
The statement quoted CP Adepoju condemning the attack as “barbaric” and announcing the launch of a full-scale investigation.
He ordered the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and promised to ensure that they will be brought to justice.
Adepoju also appealed to residents of Rivers State to come forward with credible information that could help apprehend the suspects behind the attack.
—-Oh