By Our Correspondent
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, has described the kidnap of three Dutch Nationals at Letugbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by armed men, as act of criminality, saying that it does not represent the collective aspiration of the Niger Delta people.
In a statement signed by the IYC spokesman, Barrister Eric Omare, and made available to newsmen in Warri, the group condemned the kidnap of the Dutch Nationals, just as it assured the families of the victims that they will regain freedom as soon as possible
The group stated that; “The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide was this morning drawn to the kidnap of three Dutch Nationals at Letugbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by armed men. The IYC in the strongest terms condemn this barbaric act. This is an act of a criminal few and does not represent the collective aspirations of the Niger Delta people.”
The group said it was unfortunate that criminal elements could kidnap foreigners who were on a charity mission to part of the Niger Delta on the invitation of the Dodo River Communities of Bayelsa State and facilitated by Netherland based Niger Delta Activist, Mr. Sunny Ofehe.
“The IYC wish to state clearly that this incident has nothing to do with the Niger Delta agitation; rather it is a clear case of criminality. Our preliminary investigation shows that the kidnappers may be from the Ekeremor Local Government Area and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area axis of Bayelsa State,” it said.
IYC said that it had alerted Traditional Rulers, Community leaders and other Ijaw leaders of thought in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State to ensure the immediate release of the Dutch Nationals, stressing that they must ensure that every home, family and community in those local government areas were combed to ensure the immediate release of the three Dutch nationals, one of whom is said to be asthmatic.
The group said; “The IYC working with Nigerian security agencies want to assure the families of the Dutch Nationals and the Dutch Government that the kidnapped victims would regain their freedom as soon as possible. This unfortunate incident does not represent the character of the Niger Delta people. Niger Deltans are law abiding and hospitable people.
“The IYC would ensure that the kidnappers are brought to justice to serve as deterrent to others. We once again call for the strict implementation of the Anti-Kidnapping laws of Bayelsa and Delta States which prescribes death penalty for kidnappers. This is the only way kidnappers would be deterred and arrest the increasing tide of kidnapping in the Niger Delta region,”
