Kidnap Attempt Dims Investment Forum Prospects

L-R: Prof Winston Bell-Gam, Rtn Orumabo Boma, immediate past President, Rtn Datonye Alasia and President, 2015/2016 Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, G.R.A, Rtn Gideon Etiaran, during the installation ceremony of the 6th Club President in Port Harcourt on Saturday Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

The killing of two police and
foiled attempts to abduct the Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Council last Thursday seemed to have affected the on-going Investment Forum organised by Bayelsa State Government to woo investors to the state.
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, had assured investors during his opening speech at the forum, that while there is a lot of opportunities for them to invest with serene peaceful atmosphere coupled with adequate security, the recent incident seems to have seriously impacted on that statement.
According to the story, apart from killing the two policemen, the hoodlums also carted away their official rifles
However, other policemen were able to foil the kidnapping of Elder  Remember Ogbe, the council chairman when policemen attached to him repelled  gunshots by the kidnappers.
Although the whereabouts of the escaped council chairman still remained unknown as at the time of this report, police authorities in the state capital had confirmed the killing and the foiled kidnap attempt on the chairman
The blood tasty kidnappers after killing the policemen disappeared to unknown destination  and left the lifeless bodies helpless.
The sad incident happened in the hours of 4pm and 6pm  at the chairman’s  residence in  Amassoma  when the men of the underworld struck and killed the officers and scampered away
It was gathered that the killing of the police officers by the hoodlums had attracted  sympathy as residents of the area were seen in a sorrowful mood expressing shock.
The identities of the deceased policemen were not made public, while their corpses had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) mortuary in Yenagoa.
Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing of the policemen, and said the kidnappers also went away with the police rifles.
The PPRO said the two corporals died due to injuries sustained in the gunshots by the kidnappers, but added that the command foiled the kidnap attempt on Elder Remember Ogbe, the council Chairman.
The Police  spokesman said one of the hoodlums has been arrested while efforts have been intensified to apprehend others.
It will be recalled that the whereabouts of the kidnapped monarch of Gbarain Clan in Tombia Community , His Royal Highness Chief C. A. Otobotekere is still unknown.
The community traditional ruler was abducted on Thursday 24th July, 2015, early morning by heavily armed  five man gang in his residence  Gbarain Clan, Bayelsa State.

Fyneface Aaron, Yenagoa