Police Rescue Kidnapped Monarch In Bayelsa

The 72-year old tradi tional ruler of Okordia Clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area Bayelsa State , King Richard Seiba, the Ibedaowei of Okordia Kingdom who a forth night ago was kidnapped by unknown gunmen from his home town of Ikarama has been rescued by police.

The traditional  ruler was alleged to have been dumped  at a sandbank near Amasoma community river in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The kidnappers, who had earlier demanded N50 million ransom to set the monarch free later trimmed  down the amount to N15million.

However, it is not known whether the sum was paid as police claim otherwise.

“The kidnappers fed me with garri and coconut, sometimes biscuits. They forced me to eat and told me to stop fasting and praying as the fasting and prayers caused confusion among them”.

The septuagenarian said, the kidnappers flogged him with sticks and hit him with gun butt  and demanded for N50 million ransom else they would killed him and throw him to the fishes to feed.

On hearing the incident, the state Governor, Seriake Dickson dispatched a high powered delegation to the troubled Ikarama-Okordia clan to sympathize with the people, and assured them of government assistance in ensuring the quick release of their monarch.

Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omire attributed the king rescue to God Almighty.

Omire said no ransom was paid his family or from the state government before he was released on Monday morning.

He noted that no arrested was perfected during and after the king was released, noting that the command had gathered sufficient data to track down the culprits.

On the state of security in Bayelsa, Omire said the government had approved the purchase of 15 gunboats to enforce surveillance of water ways and creeks, and lauded the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar for the approval of additional gunboats for the state.

Describing the kidnapping of the 72 years old king as a new phenomena in the state, the commissioner said, the command would intensify policing in Ikarama/Okordia communities as he appealled to residents of the state to report any act of criminalities to the police for prompt intervention.

The released traditional ruler was immediately taken to hospital for treatment before his children and relations took him.