Niger Delta
Ex-Ogbia Youth Leader Lauds Police, Others Over Kidnap Victims’ Rescue … Condemns Kidnapping
Former Youth President of the umbrella youth body of Ogbia Kingdom, the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (Worldwide), Dr. Laguo Gilbert, has lauded officers of the Nigerian Police Force, and other security operatives for their swift response which ensured the successful rescue of Mr. Loveday Akari and Mr. Emmanuel Ogbuku from their abductors.
Akari is the Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to the Managing-Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, while Mr. Emmanuel Ogbuku is the MD’s brother.
Gilbert, an academic with the Federal University, Otuoke, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, described the failed dastardly act as “barbaric and dehumanizing”.
He noted that kidnapping was alien to the people of Ogbia Kingdom, while also decrying its resurgence in the once crime and criminality free kingdom.
The Tide gathered that Mr. Loveday Akari and Emmanuel Ogbuku were whisked away by yet to identified abductors close to the Onuebum and Ayakoro communities of Ogbia Local Government Area of the State, Friday 7th March, 2025.
The erstwhile youth President in his statement tagged: ”Resurgence of kidnapping in Ogbia Kingdom is condemnable”, commended the various security formations for rescuing the duo unconditionally”, questioning the rational behind the dastardly incident
The Statement reads in parts: “The recent kidnapping of Mr. Loveday Akari, SA, Domestic, to the MD, NDDC, and the MD’s brother, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbuku, at Ayakoro, Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State is disgusting and condemnable.
“What does this mean to Ogbia/youths of the Niger Delta? What Dr. Samuel Ogbuku needs from us is our support, not acerbity.
“Kidnapping in a way shows that we do not need development in our communities or region as Dr. Samuel is currently working to achieve.
“What Dr. Ogbuku needs as MD, NDDC, is our love and total support from not just the Ogbia extraction of the Niger Delta, but every single individual in the region. So, this level of harm does not worth it.
“Let me remind us what the Bible says in Romans 13:20, ‘Love does no wrong to others. So love fulfills the requirements of God’s law’. The emphasis here is that we must not cause harm to others.
“About the Consequences of causing pain, the Bible warns that causing pain to others can have consequences. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things that God hates, including hands that shed innocent blood and feet that make haste to run to evil.
“Remember that God has plans for every life, (Jeremiah 29:11).
“Resorting to kidnap isn’t part of God’s plan for anyone. So, I want to join all those who prayed for the quick and unconditional release of the duo who have been working so hard to see Dr. Ogbuku succeed as MD.
“Moreover, we must desist from this acrimony of kidnapping, and embrace a more creative and ethical way of thriving through life.
“I commend the security agencies and every other person who acted promptly to ensure the unconditional release of Mr Akari and the NDDC MD’s brother.
The Tide reports that operatives of the Operation Puff Adder of the State Police Command have confirmed that they have rescued the duo.
The rescue tactics deployed by team of the Operation Puff Adder, a special drone team of the State Police Commissioner and another private drone company, as well as men of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Soroh, The Tide learn, led to the timely rescue operation of the duo.
Security sources further confirmed to The Tide that the kidnap victims were abandoned at a cemetery around Anyama Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the State after a hot exchange of gun fire.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa