My 48 Hours With Kidnappers – Deeyah …Thanks Amaechi, Others For Their Support

From Left: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, Minister of State II, Mrs Salamatu Suleiman and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Martin Uhomoibhi, at 2011 Induction Course for new ambassadorial appointees in Abuja, yesterday.

A member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah has denied that he was released after a gun battle between security forces and his captors.

Deeyah representing Khana/Gokana constituency who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his country home at Gwara last Saturday, explained that his abductors were neither his disillusioned supporters nor from Ogoni as was widely speculated.

The lawmaker in a statement after his release on Monday expressed gratitude to God Almighty and appreciation to the government and good people of Rivers State.

Narrating how the gunmen invaded his home, Deeyah said his captors arrived at 4pm, shooting indiscriminately and subsequently forced him into a waiting vehicle and took him away to a location unfamiliar to him where he spent two nights.

According to him, “ I was blind-folded and transferred at different times and in different vehicles until I was put in a speed boat and taken to a location in the creek”.

“I was released at about 8.30pm on Monday, April 4, 2011 after spending two nights in captivity in the same location. I was dropped off at Kaa waterside by my captors from where I put a call through a public phone service to my family who arranged and came to pick me from the Kaa waterside”, he said.

He also said that  there was no discussion about money neither was there any exchange of money at any time during the visit of Hon Magnus Abe who visited him at home before he was abducted.

Deeyah expressed sadness over the untimely death of his cousin, Marshall Alugbo who died as a result of injuries sustained during the gunfire attack that preceeded his abduction.

I wish to express my gratitude to God Almighty, appreciation to the Government and the good people of Rivers State for their concern during my ordeal. I wish to particularly express my heart-felt gratitude to the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his dear Wife, Judith for their personal efforts during the brief period of my disappearance.

I am eternally grateful to the Clergy, the various churches for their prayers of intercession. I am indebted to MOSOP for their steadfastness and support. I cannot over emphasise my gratitude to the entire people of Gwara and Ogonis in general especially the Youth and the Chiefs who rallied to find a solution while I was held captive.

He however commended his friends, colleagues and other who show solidarity with his family during his brief ordeal.