Gunmen Abducts 92yr old Bayelsa State Monarch

Gunmen have abducted a 92-year-old monarch,
His Royal Highness, Christian Otobotekere, in
Bayelsa State.
Otobotekere, father of a former Commissioner
for Science and Technology and former Chief of
Staff, Bayelsa Government House, was
abducted in Tombia community in the Gbarain
area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the
state.
It was learnt that the monarch was


seized by
heavily armed men, numbering five, who
stormed the community on Thursday morning.
The gunmen were said to have come to the area
in a Toyota Camry and shot into the air to
scare away the residents.
The kidnappers were said to have marched to
the residence of the monarch where he was
abducted at gunpoint.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said the nonagenarian was dragged
into his captors’ car and driven to the
Amassoma-Tombia bridge where he was later
transferred to a waiting speedboat with which
they escaped into the creek.
He said the abductors in a bid not to leave any
trace, set the car they came in ablaze and went
away in a speedboat.
Also, a food vendor was said to be hit by a stray
bullet from the abductors and was receiving
treatment at the Niger Delta University
Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.
The abduction of the traditional ruler sparked
protest in the domain of the monarch in Tombia
later in the day.
Residents of the area, angry with the
development, engaged in demonstration, calling
on the relevant authorities to quickly rescue
their monarch.
The development expectedly led to gridlock in
the area, forcing people to scamper for safety
while motorists made detour to avert the anger
of the protesting natives.
Confirming the incident, spokesman for the
Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim
Butswat, an assistant superintendent of
police, said the marine police, the Joint Military
Task Force and the Anti-kidnapping unit had
moved into the creeks for the rescue and
possible arrest of the suspects.
Reacting to the abduction, President, Ijaw
Youth Council Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri,
said the recent kidnappings in the state and
Niger Delta region were a reflection of the
economic situation in the region and the
country.
He said the economic downturn had started to
create an upsurge in kidnapping in the land.
He urged the government to create an enabling
environment for the people, citing an example
of alleged refusal of the Federal Government to
pay ex-militants their stipends as one of the
consequences.
He urged the government to do the needful to
avert such a situation. He called on the
relevant authorities to rescue the monarch
safely.
Also, members of the Yenagoa Book Club have
expressed dismay over the abduction of the
monarch and called for his immediate release.
President of the association, Ebiowei Lawal,
and Secretary, Princewill Sede, in a statement
in Yenagoa, lamented the increasing cases of
kidnappings without the police making any
arrest.
They said, “For 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 Nigeria
Police Force in Bayelsa State Command to do all
within its powers to ensure that Otobotekere
is unconditionally released in good health
without further delay.