Members of the Joint Military Task Force operating in Bayelsa State yesterday stormed the hideout of militants responsible for the kidnap of Pa Simeon Ebebi, father of the Deputy Governor of the state, Perewombei Ebebi and freed the octogenarian.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Edimo Amugo said 11 of the militants were arrested during the raid on their hideout.
“The father of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State was this evening released from the clutches of militants by men of the Joint Task Force”, the statement said.
It said “11 militants were arrested when the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces stormed the hideout”.
According to the statement, the old man was at the Creek House, Government House, Yenagoa as at the time of filling this report.
Meanwhile, Ijaw leaders yesterday expressed sadness at the abduction of Ijaw leaders, which is believed to be masterminded by some Ijaw militant youths, and called for the immediate release of the hostages.
Addressing newsmen at his Kiagbodo country home yesterday, foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Chief Tunde Smooth described the development as unwarranted and embarrassing particulary to the Ijaw Nation.
They, therefore, enjoined the abductors of Ijaw leaders like the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Nimi Briggs, and the father of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State to release them forthwith.
Clark wondered, in a written statement, why the terms of the amnesty granted some militants by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, to enable them lead normal lives, appeared being hampered by the apparent overzealousness of some security personnel in the region.
If the amnesty was still subsisting, he asked why militant leader, Mr. Ateke Tom, being hunted around by security personnel.
The Ijaw leaders also called President Umaru Yar�Adua to personally undertake a visit to the creeks, in order to have first-hand information regarding the daily experience and suffering of the people of these peculiar Niger-Delta areas despite their contribution to the nation�s wealth.
He demanded that the president should throw more light on the whopping N440billion in 2008 budget for security in the region, because it appeared still dubious to well-meaning Nigerians as long as the derivation fund was not reviewed upward.
Dec202007