Unknown militants in the early hours of yesterday struck at Bane, Khana Local Government Area of Ogoniland and took away Chief Kara Nwile Befi, father of the Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Charles Befi.
The abduction came as the Joint Task Force (JTF) freed a Briton, David Ward, 55 days after he was kidnapped. The JTF also arrested 10 militants who had abducted the expatriate on August 10, 2007, and asked for N200 million ransom from his employers.
The militants who struck at Ogoni were said to have stormed the house of Chief Nwile at about 1.10am and shot sporadically before gaining entry into the compound where they wasted no time in spiriting away their target before any reaction or help could come.
Community sources said there had been some misunderstanding over appointments into elective offices for the local government elections in the state slated for next month. But it could not be ascertained why the elderly man became a target given that he is not a politician.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, confirmed the kidnap but added that he did not have details as he was outside the state.
He also stated that from the briefings he got, it was likely that the kidnap was politically motivated, particularly with regards to the sharing of political benefits in the area. He did, however, expatiate on why Chief Nwile became a target.
No group or interest, as at press time, claimed responsibility for the kidnap which is fast returning after the crackdown on militants by the JTF in the state following cult clashes that almost ground the state to a halt.
�I have received report of the abduction of the father of the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly. Although I do not have details of what happened, I think that it is politically motivated. You know that the PDP is still conducting its primaries in the state and some aggrieved persons might have resorted to taking the old man,� the police commissioner said.
David Worth, an employee of Hydrodive, an oil service company located at Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt, was said to have been freed by the JTF following the arrest of Godspower Woligbo who made confessional statements that led to the operation that freed Worth.
The Military Task Force claimed that it was the first time that an expatriate would be freed without a ransom being paid.
According to Major Musa Sagir, spokesperson of the JTF in Port Harcourt, the locals volunteered some information which the force found to be credible. Sagir said this led to the arrest of Woligbo who on interrogation named Stanley Iwezu who later led them to Abara where the expatriate was rescued.
�After the JTF Operation Flush III troops overcame the passive resistance from the militants, Mr. Ward was carefully extricated. Thereafter, Mr. David Ward was questioned and he informed us that throughout his 55 days in captivity, from August 10 to October 4, 2007, he was not harmed but his life at various times was threatened by his abductors.
�He once fell sick, had malaria fever and was given drugs that helped him to recover shortly. He was fed on bread and some sardine. He was for sometime, forced to eat garri, which he disliked most. He is now looking healthy physically and mentally,� Sagir said.
JTF spokesman said the operation to free Ward began at 12 midnight on Thursday and ended at about 4.00am on Friday without any casualty on their side or on the side of the militants. �We easily overcame them and freed the expatriate,� he said.
Those paraded by JTF are Weligbo, Ukon Tom, Paulinus Awuzieke, Benard Monday, and Anthony Anyalebechi. Others are Uko Simeon Etuk Udoh, Stanley Iwezor, Miss Esther Eberonwu and Miss Gift Clarkson.
The kidnappers were said to have moved the expatriate to not less than four different detention locations before he was freed by the soldiers.
Oct62007