The State Security Services (SSS) said yesterday it was investigating the involvement of a lawmaker and traditional ruler in Bayelsa State in the spate of hostage taking that has enveloped the Niger Delta Region even as it declared 5 suspected hostage takers wanted in connection with kidnappings in the region.
Addressing newsmen in Asaba yesterday, the state director of the service, Mr Adebayo Babalola said the descreet enquiries and investigation carried out by the organisation in the past few months yielded fruit with the smashing of the hostage taking syndicate.
It paraded a suspect named Jephath James Esau who was arrested in Warri and gave an account of a how the proceeds of N15m realised from the kidnapping of four expatriate workers of Peak Petroleum Company Limited in Orobiri Community in Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was shared between members of the syndicate.
“Following the abduction of the expatriates, they were taken to a place called ‘Teachers Quarters’ at Oroibiri Community in Ekeremor after which emmissaries were sent for (monetary) negotiation. After days of negotiation, the sum of N15 million was finally accepted and brought to them by one Francis and threafter shared”, the suspect said.
On the involvement of an unamed lawmaker and traditional ruler in the kidnapping saga, the suspect further disclosed that “the residence of a royal father served as venue where the negotiation (for the sum) was sealed.”
More worrisome, the SSS said, was the unprofessional involvement of a certain lawmaker in the area whose name it said it would not disclose yet.
“Once it is established that the negotiation was done in the palace of the traditional ruler, we will not fail to arrest the traditional ruler and once he is found culpable, we go after him. Once it is established by the very statement that the negotiation was done there, he cannot exonerate himself”, he said.
Bababalola who was represented by Mr Brown Ekwoaba, assistant director of operations in the organisation noted that “you cannot negotiate something that is illegal in your premises. The moment such information gets to you, your best bet is to report to sister security agencies. They know what to do”.
The organisation has consequently declared five persons wanted in connection with hostage taking in Bayelsa State. They include German Iru who hails from Ajamebiri, Pius Olamene, Ogbetu Community; Patrick Igbosaigha, Owbiri Community, Eric Faka, Ogbetu Community and Jephat Jacob, the suspect’s twin brother.
Oct162006