National headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reacted to the kidnap of its members in Ondo State, by militants who claimed to belong to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), saying it would not pay any ransom for their release.
PDP also described the militants’ actions as unfair act aimed at blackmailing the party. Eleven members of PDP in Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State were kidnapped by militants, but two of them kidnapped have been released.
The militants are insisting on payment of N500 million as ransome.
In a related development, the state Police Command yesterday declared two persons wanted in connection with abduction of the party chiefs. They are Ebi Lubi and Bibopiri Ajuba, both Ijaw. The Police in a text message sent to journalists by the Public Relations Officer for the Command said the two are wanted over terrorism.
Apart from the two, the police also invited two politicians, J. F. Williams of Ajapa Town in Ilaje Local Government Area and Chief F.B Ajana of Opuba Town, to clear themselves of alleged complicity in the kidnapping saga.
To facilitate the arrest of the wanted persons, the police announced a reward of N2million for anyone with useful information that could lead to their arrest.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Bayo Alao said the party would not be blackmailed into paying the ransom.
According to him, “asking PDP to pay any ransom is unfair. It is a government affair. Let government at both the state and federal level intervene. We are very much concerned that our members
are being targetted by these militants. It is not fair.
“We are a political party like any other, we don’t see why our members should be targetted and kidnapped by these militants. We call on government at all levels to rescue our members,” he said