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The mother of the deputy governorship candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in the Bayelsa election, 100-year-old
Madam Ebifieghe Dikoro was yesterday kidnapped from her country
home in Furupa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the
state.
Her son, Mr. Wilberforce Agiri, is the running mate to the APC
governorship candidate and former governor of the state, Chief
Timipre Sylva.
Although no ransom had been demanded as at press time for the
abducted elderly woman, the spate of kidnappings especially of top
political leaders and their relatives has been on the rise in recent
times.
The gunmen, who abducted the centenarian, reportedly invaded her
home at 1 am yesterday in three speedboats. As has been the case with
other kidnappings in the past, they shot sporadically into the air to
ward of any counter-attack from community vigilantes and whisked
the old woman away. They escaped into the mangrove rain forest
without a trace as at press time.
Spokesman of the state Police Command Astimin Butwat confirmed
the incident, even as he said that the details of the kidnapping were
still sketchy.
Already, the abduction of the woman has sparked off claims and
counter claims between the campaign organisations of Sylva and
Governor Seriake Dickson who is seeking reelection on the platform
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
While the Director of Publicity of the Sylva/Agiri Campaign
Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, blamed the abduction of the
woman on the alleged violent campaign embarked upon by Dickson,
the governor’s campaign team, through the chairman of the Bayelsa
Media Team, Hon. Dan Kikile, while condemning the kidnapping,
dismissed the claims by the APC as unfounded and baseless.
According to Egba, “We call on the PDP, particularly the
governorship candidate, to lower the political temperature in the state
and lead by example as he seems to be preaching violence and insulting
the APC leaders at all public events.
“The kidnapping of the aged mother of the APC running mate is only
the latest in cases of kidnapping and sea piracy that has apparently
overwhelmed the security agencies in the state.
“Recall that last year, the uncle and guardian of our governorship
candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva also died in the hands of kidnappers.
Yet, Governor Dickson kept shouting about peace and security.”
In his reaction, Kikile said the Dickson administration had in the
past raised the alarm over the increase in violent crimes in the state
due to the activities of the APC.
“We are aware that these security issues are created to deliberately
call to question our record on peace and security. They know that one
of the things we are showcasing is security and peace and restoration
of law and order.
“Since they came, we have witnessed various kidnappings of six
traditional rulers in the state. The political adviser to the governor
was also kidnapped and now the aged mother of the running mate of
the APC. These people are desperate to jeopardise our good record.”
Source: Thisday News
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