Gunmen strike again in Bayelsa: Kidnap Medical Doctor from Speaker, House of Assembly’s community

NEDU MARK, YENAGOA

Few weeks to the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state, the state Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a Medical Doctor serving in a Southern Ijaw community.

The abduction is coming barely 24 hours after ransom seeking gunmen kidnapped the mother of the All Progressives Congress, APC, running mate, Elder Wilberforce Igiri.

The over 100 years old woman, simply identified as Madam Ebifieghe Bikoroghe, was abducted from her home at Foropa in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area last Thursday.

Police said the Medical Doctor was whisked away by armed gunmen who shot sporadically to disperse passersby before taking him to an unknown destination.

Sources confirmed that the Doctor, who was identified simply as Ekwueme, was kidnapped at about 6am Friday morning at Korokorosei community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Many traditional rulers and women have been kidnapped in the recent past with the two main political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trading blames as to which of them is responsible.

The Doctor, who works in a clinic in Korokorosei, the community of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, was abducted from his residence by gunmen who operated with speed boats.

They were said to have bundled him into a speed boat and sped off to an unknown place.

A security source who confirmed the development described the rate of kidnapping in the state in recent times as worrisome.

Contacted for comments, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the Command has deployed its men to the scene of the crime.

He insisted that the Command is gathering intelligence reports on the act from the community.