By Francis Sadhere
As efforts to track down the kidnappers of Chief E.K. Clark’s son enter its second day, Ex-Niger Delta Freedom Fighters have volunteered to collaborate with security agencies to effect the release of Ebikeme Clark.
This was stated in statement signed by the spokesperson of Ijaw Youth Council, Worldwide, IYC Barrister Eric Omare, and made available to newsmen in Warri.
According to the statement; “Also some Ex-Niger Delta freedom fighters have volunteered to join forces with the IYC and security agencies to effect the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark. While we appreciate the pains the Clark’s family may be going through, the IYC reiterate its position that ransom should not be paid to kidnappers. This is another case of commercial kidnapping; hence payment of ransom must be discouraged.”
The IYC spokesman said that investigation so far, was clear that the kidnappers hideout may be somewhere in the creeks around Delta and Bayelsa States close to the coast, mandating all its officials in the Riverine Clans of Oporomor, Seimbiri, Ingbelebiri and Mein in Bayelsa and Delta States to swing into action and fish out the kidnappers.
The statement reads; “IYC investigation so far is to the effect that the kidnappers hideout may be somewhere in the creeks around Delta and Bayelsa States close to the coast; that is the communities near the sea. Though, from experience kidnappers are never stationed in one place as they move from one place to the other to avoid being caught.”
“To this extent, all the Ijaw Communities and Community leaders in the communities close to the coastal parts of Delta and Bayelsa States have been contacted to form rescue team to curb all the creeks, towns and villages in a bid to free Mr. Ebikeme Clark without delay. The Ijaw people and communities are totally against kidnapping, sea piracy and other social vices,” the statement reads further.
Barrister Omare, while recognizing that kidnapping and other social vices have direct nexus between the economic situation of its people, he called on all stakeholders in the region to take drastic steps against kidnapping, piracy, oil theft and other social vices.
He said; “This incident coming shortly after the kidnap of the foster father of the President Jonathan and the relative of a Bayelsa State Commissioner has brought to the fore the need for all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to take drastic steps against kidnapping, sea piracy, oil theft and other social vices. While condemning these vices, we wish to state that there is a direct nexus between these crimes and the economic situation of our people.”
The IYC therefore, called on “multinational oil companies and state governments whose revenue has increased as a result of cessation of militancy in the Niger Delta region to perform their role of creating/providing jobs in the post amnesty era. The concept of the federal government amnesty programme in the Niger Delta was for the federal government to mainly take care of the training while the oil companies and state governments are supposed to mainly handle the area of creation and provision of jobs. The IYC believes that creation of job opportunities is the long term solution to these social vices.”
The statement further revealed that; “The IYC would come up with its anti kidnapping and anti sea piracy strategy after the All Ijaw Youths Summit to be hosted by the Bayelsa State Government on how to fight sea piracy, kidnapping, oil theft and other social vices.”
