Kidnappers Free Clark’s Son

Vice President, Membership Development, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr Emeka Nwakpa (right), addressing Vietnamese business delegation at the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu recently.

Ebikeme, the son of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has regained his freedom from his abductors.
Ebikeme Clark was kidnapped in Kiagbodo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State last Wednesday.
The Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed yesterday in Warri that Ebikeme was released around midnight on Saturday.
Kalu said that the victim was released by the Kiagbodo waterside without ransom.
“Clark was released at the early hour of today (yesterday) by his captors and no ransom was paid,’’ she said.
The PPRO said that one suspect apprehended in connection with the crime assisted the police with useful information.
The victim, who narrated his ordeal in the kidnappers’ den, said that it was an unpleasant experience.
“I cannot explain how it happened, but it was unpleasant.
“I was released by the grace of God; I was taken to an unknown destination in the creek,” he said.
The kidnappers had earlier demanded a ransom of N50million.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, had disclosed last Friday that the police had arrested three of the suspected kidnappers and were inching closer to their hideout, warning the family not to pay any ransom.
The police boss claimed that one of the suspects confessed that he participated in the “planning stage of the kidnap.”
The police had promised that “no stone would be left unturned in rescuing Ebikeme”.
Aduba had alleged that the kidnap was carried out by Ijaw kinsmen of Edwin Clark, pledging that the police would burst the syndicate soon.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC) has commended security agencies for freeing Mr Ebikeme Clark from his abductors.
A statement issued by spokesman of IYC, Eric Omare, described the unconditional release of Ebikeme yesterday morning as triumph of collective will against criminality.
Omare said that Ijaw youths joined forces with security agencies and ensured the release of Ebikeme.
“This clearly demonstrates to the entire world and Nigerians in particular that crimes only thrive in the society when it is condoned and given tacit support by members of the society.
“The IYC believes that there is a valuable lesson to be learnt from this experience by Nigerians and the government in the fight against crimes, especially terrorism in the Northern part of the country.”
Omare urged state governments and oil firms in the Niger Delta to create jobs for youths in the area to enable them contribute to the development of the region.
“We once again call on oil companies and state governments in the Niger Delta region whose oil revenue have increased as a result of the cessation of militancy in the Niger Delta to live up to their responsibility of providing and creating jobs in the post amnesty era.
“The fight against kidnapping, oil theft and other social vices in the Niger Delta region cannot be successful without relevant stakeholders taking drastic steps to address the economic situation of our people.
“The training acquired by ex-agitators through the amnesty programme would not achieve its purpose without the provision of jobs for the beneficiaries.
It would be recalled that three days after kidnappers seized his son, elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, had said he was not surprised about the development, and made a passionate plea for the kidnappers to free Ebikeme.
Clark, who is a delegate to the on-going National Conference in Abuja, was quoted Saturday morning as saying that he was not angry about the kidnapping because it is part of the things people ought to live with.
The son, Ebikeme, was abducted by some gunmen while inspecting the site of his father’s proposed University of Technology in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.