Security beef up in Otuoke over community chief’s abduction

Yenagoa—There was heavy security presence, yesterday, in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following Sunday’s abduction of Chief Inengite Nitabai by gunmen.

Chief Nitabai’s abduction, it was learnt, might not be unconnected with an alleged land dispute.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, a family source told Vanguard, was to meet with the kidnapped chief and other family members over a land dispute on Monday before the sad event of Sunday.
Our correspondent who visited Otuoke, which is also a host to the Federal University, observed large presence of security operatives in the community and checkpoints at the entry and exit points.

Chief Nitabai was whisked away in his car, a Sports Utility Vehicle, by armed men, who stormed his home Sunday night.

The vehicle was later recovered at Onuegbum waterfront where it was abandoned, an indication that his abductors might have escaped through the creek.

At press time, the gunmen were yet to establish contact with their victim’s family.

A member of the family who spoke anonymously, pleaded with the kidnappers to release their bread winner, whom he described as a man of peace, on humanitarian ground.

Two suspects, it was learnt, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the abduction of the chief and urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, warned that government would not hesitate to prosecute any person found culpable in the act.

The state government, it will be recalled, had prescribed death penalty for convicted kidnappers.

- Vanguard

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