Gunmen Abduct 92-Year-Old Traditional Ruler In S'South Bayelsa

 

The spate of kidnappings in Bayelsa State has continued unabated as gunmen thursday kidnapped a 92-year-old paramount ruler of Tombia community in Gbarain Area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, Chief Christian Otobotekere, from his palace.

 

The kidnapping triggered protest on the sreets of Yenagoa as the people demanded an end to the worrisome dimension of the menace.

 

Otobotekere is the father of a Permanent Secretary in the federal civil service, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who was until last year the Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson.

 

Thisday reported that heavily armed men numbering five stormed the community between 7.30a.m. and 8a.m. in a Toyota Camry car and abducted the old man from his palace.

 

But as they moved out of the town, the palace household were said to have raised the alarm which forced the gunmen to start shooting sporadically to scare away the people as they made good their escape.

 

A food vendor was hit by a stray bullet and is currently receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said the marine police, the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the anti-kidnapping unit have moved into the creeks for the rescue and possible arrest of the suspects.

 

Meanwhile, the members of the Yenagoa Book Club (YBC) have expressed dismay over the abduction of the monarch and called his immediate release.

 

President of the association, Ebiowei Lawal and Secretary, Princewill Sede in a statement issued, lamented the increasing cases of kidnappings without the police making any arrest.

 

“To us, the act of the kidnappers is not only barbaric and wicked; it is an insult to the literary community in Bayelsa State and the nation at large.

 

“Therefore, the YBC is calling on the Nigerian Police Force, Bayelsa State command to do all within its powers to ensure that Otobotekere is unconditionally released in good health without further delay.

 

“We also want to use this medium to urge the kidnappers to release him speedily, because if the Niger Delta foremost poet and regent of Tombia community who is over 90 years old suffers any form of harm, his case would be one meat they cannot chew.

 

“We want to assure the international literary community that we will not relent in our fight to pressure concerned authorities to facilitate his release, as we will protest, continue to protest and protest until he is released healthy, alive and unconditionally.”

 

Credit: thisdaylive.com