The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has raised an alarm that some politicians and jobbers wanted to collect money on the guise that they facilitated the release of two German hostages, Mr. Jurgen Vetten (43) and Mr. Bernd Mechlen (60). The group insisted that it collected no ransom.
The operation which they codenamed �Operation Paul and Silas (OPAS) through which it freed the hostages was brokered by Chief Edwin Clark, Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State and Coventry Cathedral so that any other person outside the three influences that make claim to the freeing of the hostages was a liar.
MEND said they would have preferred releasing the two Germans to Clark but had to settle for Sylva as the former was not handy in a situation that demanded urgency due to the state of health of Mechlen who sustained spinal chord injury.
A statement from MEND site by its Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo said the claimants wanted to smear the group so that it can be classed among the criminal elements that kidnap people for ransom.
�It has come to our notice that for political and /or for financial motives, some government officials and politicians are giving the impression that they were an influence in the negotiations and subsequent release of the German hostages on August 14, 2008.
�To our knowledge, the only key persons or group that played any relevant mediator role towards the success of OPAS (Operation Paul and Silas) are Chief E. K. Clark, Chief Timipre Sylva, the governor of Bayelsa state and the Coventry Cathedral.
�The only reason the hostages were handed over to a government representative is simply because Chief Clark who was our preferred choice was not on hand to receive them and time was of the essence due to the fears of a medical emergency.
�It must be stated here that no ransom was received. Our gesture which was done on principle, utmost good faith and humanitarian reasons should not be misconstrued as a shift from our position to continue fighting an unjust system through armed struggle and sabotage until the Niger Delta is emancipated�, Jomo said.
Aug172008