Gunmen attack vessel, abduct six foreigners in Bayelsa

Gunmen

Gunmen suspected to be pirates have abducted six foreigners along Koloama waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

Our correspondent gathered that the bandits attacked an oil vessel, christened Armada Tuah 101’, whisking away two Indians, one Russians and three citizens of Ukraine.

The bandits, whose whereabouts remained unknown, were said to have contacted the company and demanded N200m as ransom to free the victims.

The gunmen were said to have escaped with their targets unchallenged after carrying out the operation at about 1am on Sunday.

Our correspondent gathered that about 15 crew members were on board the vessel at the time of the incident when the bandits took the six foreigners hostage.

It was further learnt that the attacked vessel belonged to Century Group of Company, an oil servicing and marine company based in Lagos.

A Security Supervisor attached to the company, who was identified as Perekeni Emmanuel, was said to have reported the matter to the police in Yenagoa.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident , and said the police were making efforts to locate the kidnappers and their victims.

Kidnapping of expatriates and parents of politicians has become common in the state.

On October 16, 2012, bandits suspected to be sea pirates abducted six Russians and an Estonian along the Pennington River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Also, four Korean employees of the Hyndai Fabrication Yard, J.S. Chae, J.H. Kim, K.H. Kim and P.W. Lee, were kidnapped on December 17 by an eight-man gang in Brass Island.

The trend continued on December 24 when three Italians and one expatriate with unclear nationality on board MV Venuto were kidnapped along the Pennington River.

Such incidents continued on January 14, when 78-year-old Betinah, mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, was kidnapped.

Also, on January 21, 65-year-old Festus and his 53-year-old wife, Ebiye, the parents of Richard Ibegu, chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area, were kidnapped by a three-man armed gang.

Worried by the development, the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had on February 14 signed the Kidnapping and Allied Offences Bill into law, which prescribed death punishment for convicted kidnappers.

PUNCH