Three Dutch nationals have been abducted by gunmen in Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
It was learnt that the whereabouts of two Nigerians who were in company with the Dutch are also unknown.
It was further learnt that the three Dutch nationals, two males and a female, were abducted on Sunday evening.
They were said to have been kidnapped after a visit to the palace of the traditional ruler of Iduwuni Kingdom, King Joel Ibane.
The gunmen who allegedly rode on a speedboat, shot sporadically into
the air with their AK-47 rifles before seizing their victims.
Reacting to the abduction of the Dutch, the Ijaw Youth Council
Worldwide condemned the abduction, describing the act as barbaric.
Spokesman for the group, Mr. Eric Omare, said the kidnap was an act
of a few criminals which he said was against the collective aspirations
of the Niger Delta people.
“It is unfortunate that criminal elements could kidnap foreigners who
were on a charity mission on the invitation of the Dodo River
Communities of Bayelsa State and facilitated by Netherland based Niger
Delta Activist, Mr. Sunny Ofeghe,” he said.
Omare said the incident was a clear case of criminality and had nothing to do with the agitation of Niger Delta.
He said preliminary investigations by IYC showed that the kidnappers
could have come from Ekeremor and the Southern Ijaw local government
areas.
Omare added that IYC had made necessary contacts with the traditional
rulers, community leaders and other Ijaw leaders in the two LGAs in
their efforts to ensure the quick release of the victims.
The spokesman said, “They must ensure that every home, family and
community in those local government areas are combed to ensure the
immediate release of the three Dutch nationals, one of whom is said to
be asthmatic.
“The IYC, working with Nigerian security agencies, wants to assure
the families of the Dutch and the Dutch Government that the kidnapped
victims would regain their freedom soon.
“This unfortunate incident does not represent the character of the
Niger Delta people. Niger Deltans are law abiding and hospitable people,
adding that the group would make sure that the abductors brought to
justice in order to serve as deterrent to others.”
He called for the strict implementation of the Anti-Kidnapping laws
of Bayelsa and Delta states which prescribed death penalty for
kidnappers.
“This is the only way kidnappers would be deterred and arrest the increasing rate of kidnappings the region,” he said.
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