Kidnappers at Famgbe in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Saturday, made away with a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, Aduntunure Aweri.
The motive for the kidnap of the girl, whose boat driver father was away when the incident happened, could not be ascertained as at press time, but a senior police officer, who craved anonymity, said it might be for ritual purpose.
The police source disclosed that a middle-aged man, who was simply identified as Nelson, who visited the coastal community, was sighted playing with the baby before her disappearance.
Aweri�s mother, Mrs. Adulomor Dike, initially did not suspect foul play, as that was not the first time that Nelson would be visiting the community, but eventually raised the alarm over the sudden disappearance of her daughter.
The alarm attracted her neighbours, who organised a search party, but the girl nor Nelson�s whereabouts were ascertained. The matter was then reported at the Yenagoa Police Station.
The police source stated that a suspect, Mr. Richard Oglivie, an undergraduate of Abia State University, Uturu, and Nelson�s bosom friend, was later arrested and is assisting the police in their investigations.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa Command, Mr. Ibokette Iniobong, a DSP, said he was yet to get the details of the incident.
It will be recalled that militants on July 24, kidnapped Madam Hansel, the mother of the Speaker of the state�s House of Assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, but she regained her freedom on August 3, after 11 days in captivity.
The Speaker�s mother, in her late 70s and popularly known as �Mama Yenagoa,� who was kidnapped at her country home, Akaiebiri in Ekpetiama Clan, Yenagoa LGA of the state, had since remained with her son at his official residence at the Assembly Quarters, Azikoro Road in the state capital.
The militants, also on August 8, kidnapped Daniel, the 11-year-old son of the only female member of the Bayelsa Assembly, Mrs. Ruby Benjamin, who represents Brass Constituency III and the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, but was released on August 14.