allAfrica.com * Gunmen Abduct Deputy Governor Father Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS 10 December 2007 Posted to the web 11 December 2007 By Samuel Oyadongha, Emma Amaize and Jimitota Onoyume Lagos THE peace accord signed last Thursday by militants in Bayelsa State was violated violently yesterday when gunmen invaded the riverine settlement of Aleibiri and abducted the father of the state Deputy Governor, Chief Simon Ebebi, the Alei of Aleibiri kingdom. Incensed by the act, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) warned that no negotiation be conducted with the perpetrators. In neighbouring Rivers State, the Joint Task Force in the state yesterday raided Okrika in search of the cult kingpin, Atike Tom. The raid was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the JTF, Lieutenant Sagi Musa. Vanguard reliably gathered that the kidnapping of the royal father might have been carried out by some "commercial kidnappers" prompting the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to issue a warning that no negotiation should be entered into with the perpetrators of the heinous crime. The Alei of Alebiri, in his mid sixties, was seized at about 3.30 a.m. in a commando styled operation from his palace by the gunmen who dragged him to the community waterfront where their boat was waiting before they disappeared into the maze of the Forcados River. The gunmen were said to have embarked on indiscriminate shooting on berthing at the community waterfront to whittle down any possible resistance from the natives before marching straight to the palace of the Alei where he was abducted. Although the motive of the gunmen could not be ascertained, informed sources, however, told this reporter that the invaders stormed Aleibiri community from a neighbouring community in Delta State and might have some scores to settle with the victim's son. A source who pleaded anonymity said the kidnappers have already sent a message to the Deputy Governor to establish a channel of communication with him ostensibly to demand ransom for his father's release. This, the source, however, said, the Ijaw Youth Council warned against, insisting that no ransom be paid to any group or individual with a promise to get all those behind the plot unmasked. Reacting to the development, Chairman of the state chapter of the Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephtath, described the action of the kidnappers as purely criminal, saying it had nothing to do with the peace accord reached with militants in the state. "As a matter of fact, the kidnapping of the deputy governor's father has nothing to do with the peace agreement we had with militants in Bayelsa State. This is a criminal act. We all know we cannot rule out criminality in the whole act. "We believe that those with whom we have gone into agreement could not have betrayed us," Chief Jephtath said through his media aide, Mr. Alphine Ogu and pleaded with state governments in the region to take a cue from Bayelsa. Efforts to get the comment of the state Deputy Governor, Mr Peremobowei Ebebi, on the issue proved abortive as he was said to have travelled to Abuja on pressing state matters but his Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Tambou, confirmed the incident in a four-paragraph statement made available to newsmen. The statement reads in part: "The paramount ruler of Aleibiri, His Royal Highness, Chief Simon Ebebi and father of the Bayelsa State deputy governor was abducted last night by unidentified gunmen at his town, Aleibiri in Ekeremor local government area. "We condemn this unholy act and strongly believe that those behind it are mere criminals who are out to discredit the peace deal signed by militants with the Bayelsa State and Federal Governments. "Please note that it was the deputy governor's father that was abducted and not the deputy governor himself as widely speculated. "Security agents are already investigating the matter to unravel those behind the act. Anybody who has useful information on the matter should report to the nearest police station." Contacted, the state police spokesman, Mr. Iniobong Ibokette (DSP), could not be reached but a senior officer said all security outfits in the state had swung into action with a view to tracking down the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has distanced its members from the act which it linked to what it called internal politics that had nothing to do with the genuine Ijaw struggle for self determination and resource control. The group in an online reaction to Vanguard enquiry said: "We were not involved in such a despicable act. The abduction is undoubtedly related to local politics and the government should look inwards for the perpetrators or masterminds of this crime." JTF raids Okrika for Tom In Rivers State, the Joint Task Force, yesterday, raided Okrika in search of the dreaded cultist, Ateke Tom. Confirming the development to Vanguard, the army PRO and spokesman of the JTF in the state, Lieutenant Sagi Musa, said they moved into Okochiri, a community in the area said to be the base of the cult leader, in the morning. The military operation was still on at press time last night, so it could not be confirmed if Ateke Tom was arrested. Meanwhile, community sources told Vanguard that the soldiers were carrying cordon and search operations. Residents of the community were thoroughly frisked and in some cases houses searched. Several youths were also arrested. Ateke Tom had been declared wanted by security operatives in the state for his alleged involvement in acts of cultism, brigandage and other related crimes. The dreaded cultist during the time of deposed governor Celestine Omehia had written to the governor for clemency and state pardon, saying he had abandoned his old ways. Omehia could not respond to the letter before he was thrown out as governor via a Supreme Court judgement. MEND disowns peace accord with militants Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has disowned the peace accord recently signed between the Bayelsa State Government and some militants in the state, saying those who signed the peace deal under the pretext of repentant militants were thugs hired by the government to hoodwink the Nigerian public and international investors. MEND in a statement, signed by Jomo Gbomo said: "MEND wishes to clarify its position on the Bayelsa Peace Conference and Agreement Signing Ceremony of Thursday, December 6, 2007. "MEND categorically denies participating in the jamboree nor signing any peace accord. The group abides by its resumption of hostilities and hostage taking until our core demands are met. "It is fraudulent and a sign of desperation on the part of the Federal and Bayelsa State governments of Nigeria to hire political thugs to pose as repentant militants in an attempt to hoodwink investors, the Nigerian public and the international community." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------