SOME youths suspected to be militants, who allegedly made the victory of Honourable Yousuo Amalanyo, a member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly a reality in the last general election, have kidnapped his mother, Mrs. Laura Canus, and demanded a N5 million ransom before her release.
They kidnapped the woman because the legislator refused to pay them the agreed amount for their assistance after he won the election.
And in Anambra State, the father of a member of state House of Assembly, Honourable Dimobi Joseph, representing Amocha constituency 11, was kidnapped for the same �offence�.
The acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, while parading the suspects which included a woman in Abuja on Wednesday, advised politicians to fulfil the promise made to the people that ensured their victory.
Okiro noted that it was dishonourable to renege on promises, saying that such an act could lead to chaos. He disclosed that Honourable Joseph reported that he received several threatening telephone calls from people who demanded for N5 million and that if he refused, they would kill his father.
The IGP said �the police investigation revealed that Nkechi Enemoh and her boyfriend, Onyeka Okoro, were behind the plot.� Okiro added that Nkechi was the campaign manager of Honourable Joseph for the election and played a role in his victory.
Nkechi, while speaking with journalists, admitted assisting the legislator, but demanded that he paid her what they both agreed. According to her, �I assisted him with all my power and resources to win the election and you all know that it wasn�t easy. He promised to pay me N500,000 but after his victory, he refused to pay my boys and others used during the election. I don�t have other job, he must pay me.�
In Bayelsa State, the IGP said that �five heavily armed men invaded a village courtyard at Akassa town in Brass Local Government Area and kidnapped Madam Canus, mother of Honourable Yousuo Amalanyo of Bayelsa House of Assembly.�
Police investigation, according to him, led to the arrest of three suspects � Michael Kumosouyo, Hero Abraham, and Joshua Julius – �who have confessed to the commission of the crime.�
The suspects, he said, took Madam Canus to an unknown destination and demanded for a ransom of N5 million. During an interview with newsmen, Michael Kumosouyo claimed that they all assisted the legislator during the last election, but he refused to pay them.
�For refusing to pay, we all agreed to kidnap his mother in order for him to pay us for the job well done and teach others a good lesson,� he said.