Gunmen suspected to be militants invaded the country home of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Werenipre Seibarugu, in Akiabiri, Yenagoa, on Tuesday night and kidnapped his 70-year-old mother.
Seibarugu, who was attending a parliamentary conference in South Africa along with some principal officers of the House, abandoned the event on learning of the kidnap of his mother and made for the country.
Also, an American Professor of Environment, Mr. Michael Watts from University of Berkeleys, United States of America, was yesterday morning shot and wounded in the arm by hoodlums who also dispossessed him of $600.
The fate of the speaker�s mother who was popularly called Madam Yenagoa was still unknown by last night.
THISDAY gathered that those who abducted her were also yet to make any demand for ransom.
It was learnt that the gunmen who seized Madam Yenagoa were dressed in military fatigues as they invaded the sleepy community of Akiabiri, in Ekpetiama, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
They allegedly came in two boats from the River Nun at about 8.30 pm.
The speaker�s mother also known as Madam Hansel in the community was taken from her bedroom by the militants who shot sporadically into the air to scare away villagers who might want to dare them, before whisking her to an unknown destination.
The speaker was immediately contacted by the state Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva, who briefed him on the efforts by the police to ensure the safe return of the old woman.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in Yenagoa, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Julian Okpaleke, said five heavily armed youths carried out the kidnap.
He said one suspect had already been arrested and was helping the police in its investigation.
Okpaleke who could not say whether the kidnappers were militants or not, however, pointed out that they were armed.
He said they shot sporadically into the air before moving into the compound, where the woman was kidnapped.
Reacting to the incident, Sylva vowed to purge the state of criminal elements, which, according to him, were damaging the image and economy of the state.
In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebimo Amungo, the governor said he had initiated a strategy to rid the state of hostage takers.
Sylva said: �My Honourable Speaker, I want you to be strong in this time of trial. We share your pain and I can assure you that I will use all the resources available to me to help find your mother and bring these criminals to justice. My administration shall run a zero-tolerance policy against kidnappers in Bayelsa state�.
Sylva said government was working with security agencies in the state to ensure a quick release of the old woman, as well as bring the kidnappers to book.
A source at Yenagoa Government House told THISDAY that the speaker would head for the state today on arrival from South Africa.
It was also learnt that the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, may also head for Yenagoa to have dialogue with some militant groups in the state over the development.
Also speaking with newsmen on the incident, Personal Assistant to the Speaker on Media, Mr. Jonah Okah, said, �I have confirmed the kidnap of the mother of Speaker Seibarugu after speaking with his close family relatives. I am aware that government is making effort to unravel the incident.�
Okah described the kidnap as a bad omen for a state that was in dire need of development.
He, however, appealed to those who seized the woman to release her quickly.
The kidnap of relations of top politicians and businessmen ostensibly for ransom appears to be the new face of militancy in the Niger Delta.
But up till the kidnap of Seibarugu�s mother, the incident was restricted to Rivers State
Meanwhile, the news of the kidnap has paralysed activities in the state assembly.
The assembly complex wore a grave look as only a few security operatives stationed at the entrance were around.
The kidnap of the speaker�s mother came on the heel of reports that some members of the House of Assembly had initiated impeachment proceedings against the Speaker, Seibarogu and Deputy Governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi.
But the assembly had on Monday denied that any such move was being contemplated.
The shooting of the American academic in Port Harcourt came yesterday as another employee in the oil sector simply identified as Elder Uchendu, was shot dead in his Ede Street in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt by unknown gun men.
The incident occurred at about 11pm last Tuesday.
THISDAY learnt that the American was in the country to carry out a study in environment and communal conflicts in the Niger Delta had gone to National Point Newspaper, a local tabloid to interview reporters on their stable when the hoodlums stormed the office of the newspaper.
The men said to be four in number and armed were said to have made no pretences as they shot the gateman of the newspaper house many times on the leg before entering their newsroom where they also shot the American in the arm and demanded for the money.
A Nigerian human rights activist, Patrick Naangbaton, who latter rushed the American to an undisclosed hospital, said the gateman of the newspaper was critically injured and had to be moved from the first place he was taken to for a specialist attention.
Attempts by THISDAY to speak with the professor proved futile as he was said to be sleeping after taking medications.
Watts was said to have visited some of the environmentally degraded sites in the Niger Delta region and was just fine-tuning his materials through local media men who may have witnessed the incidents when he was attacked.
The killing of Elder Elendu came in controversial circumstances.
When his assailants succeeded in gaining entry into his apartment, they made straight for him and shot him severally.
On confirming that he was dead, they left his lifeless body and fled the scene before sympathisers who were attracted by the sound of the gunshots rushed him to a hospital where doctors confirmed him dead.
Jul262007