The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eric Omare

  • Three Dutch nationals kidnapped in Bayelsa

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be unrepentant Niger Delta militants have abducted three Dutch nationals in Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
    ‎It was also gathered that the whereabouts of two Nigerians who accompanied the Dutch nationals were unknown.
    Sources said the three Dutch nationals, two males and a female, were abducted on Sunday at about 4:30pm.
    They were reportedly kidnapped after a visit to the palace of the traditional ruler of Iduwuni Kingdom, HRM. King Joel Ibane.
    The gunmen, who came on a speedboat, shot sporadically with their AK-47 rifles before seizing their victims.
    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, condemned the abduction, describing it as a barbaric act.
    IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said the kidnap was an act of a few criminals and against the collective aspirations of the Niger Delta people.
    “It is unfortunate that criminal elements could kidnap foreigners who were on a charity mission on the invitation of the Dodo River Communities of Bayelsa State and facilitated by Netherland based Niger Delta Activist, Mr. Sunny Ofeghe,” he said.
    Omare noted that the incident was a clear case of criminality and had nothing to do with the agitation of Niger Delta.
    He said preliminary investigations by IYC showed that the kidnappers came from Ekeremor and the Southern Ijaw local government areas.

     

  • IYC vows to rescue Jonathan’s uncle

    IYC vows to rescue Jonathan’s uncle

    •Tension mounts in Bayelsa

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday said it would secure the release of President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle, Chief Inengite Nitabai, who was kidnapped at gunpoint last week in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Vowing to work with security agencies to secure the release of the 70-year-old man from his abductors, IYC condemned the kidnap and promised to help unmask those behind the dastardly act.

    IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, said in a statement issued Wednesday that the foremost Ijaw Youth group had already constituted a three-man committee to liaise with the security agencies to rescue the old man.

    “The Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide condemns in the strongest term, the kidnap of the 70-year-old” he said.

    Describing the incident as unfortunate, the group said the incident was coming at a time when President Jonathan needed to be fully concentrated to face the challenges of governing Nigeria.

    He expressed sympathy to the Jonathan/Nitabai family of Otuoke, saying that IYC would work with security agencies to fish out the kidnappers.

    Maintaining that there is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in Ijaw land, IYC reiterated that kidnapping and criminality is alien to Ijaw culture.

    The group said it believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment.

    Omara added that this formed the basis why the group had resolved to confront kidnapping and all forms of crimes in Ijawland.

    The group also called on the Bayelsa State Government to ensure that the kidnappers of Nitabai are brought to book and its anti-kidnapping law tested.

    The statement contended that kidnapping and criminality cannot stop without bringing to justice those involved in the act.

    Unknown gunmen seized Nitabai in his family compound and whisked him away in a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

    His wife, in a bid to stop his abduction, had allegedly offered the gunmen about N400,000 to no avail.

    However, the Bayelsa State Police Command said two persons have been arrested in connection with the abduction and are helping security operatives in their investigation.

    Bayelsa State was all fear yesterday as the state government and security agencies struggled to deal with the embarrassment of the abduction of Nitabai.

    Nitabai spent his seventh day in the den of the hoodlums yesterday with the security agencies yet to find a clue to his whereabouts.

    He was seized from his Otuoke home, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state last Sunday by 10 gunmen who have since established contact with his family, demanding a N500million ransom.

    Following persistent kidnappings in the state, the House of Assembly passed a bill which prescribed the death penalty for convicts.

    Governor Seriake Dickson signed the bill into law but no one has yet been tried under it.

    Nitabai’s abduction is raising questions about the seriousness of the authorities to make the law work.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) wants the state government to use the Nitabai abduction to test the efficacy of the law.

    IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, asked Governor Dickson to ensure that the abductors are apprehended and brought to book, saying that unless people involved in kidnapping are dealt with the illegal booming business would continue.

    It also described the abduction as a distraction to President Jonathan.

    “Coming at a time when President Jonathan needs to be in the best frame of mind to face the challenges of governing a complex nation such as Nigeria is most unfortunate”, it said and announced the setting up of a three-man team to work with security agencies to find Nitabai.

    “There is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in Ijawland. Kidnapping and criminality is alien to Ijaw culture,” it declared.

    “The IYC believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment. Hence, the resolve to confront kidnapping and all forms of crimes in Ijaw land.”

    Some other relations of the President are said to be apprehensive about their own safety following the kidnapping.

  • Abduction of Jonathan’s cousin unsettles Bayelsa

    Abduction of Jonathan’s cousin unsettles Bayelsa

    BAYELSA State is yet to recover from fears and confusion surrounding the abduction of Inengite Nitabai, the septuagenarian cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Nitabai was whisked away last Sunday from Otuoke, Jonathan’s hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area by 10 gunmen who attacked him in his house at about 9pm.

    Though the hoodlums established contact with the family of their victim and demanded N500m ransom, security operatives were said to be confused over the whereabouts of the kidnappers.

    It was observed that the development has raised doubts over the efficacy of the law against kidnapping in the state, which prescribes death penalty for convicts.

    Since the law was passed by the House of Assembly and signed by Governor Seriake Dickson, it had failed to deter criminal activities of kidnappers.

    Despite the increasing incidents of kidnapping, nobody has also been apprehended or prosecuted sentenced in the spirits of the new law.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) said the anti-kidnapping law in the state should be put to test in the case of Inengite.

    IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, asked Dickson to ensure that the abductors are apprehended and brought to book.

    It observed that unless people involved in kidnapping were brought to justice, the illegal booming business would continue.

    IYC said it had set up a three-man team to work with security agencies and ensure that Nitabai regains his freedom.

    “There is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in Ijawland. Kidnapping and criminality is alien to Ijaw culture.

    “The IYC believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment.”

    There were also fears among other relatives of President Jonathan over the possibility of becoming targets of kidnappers.

    Some of them, it was learnt, were said to have relocated to Yenagoa, the state capital, where they believe it would be difficult for kidnappers to get them.