Gunmen Kidnap 85-Year-old Monarch in Bayelsa, South-South Nigeria

Police in Bayelsa on Friday confirmed the abduction of eighty-five-year-old Paramount Ruler of Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Benjamin Weke, by gunmen.

Spokesman for police command in the state, Mr Asinim Butswatt, a Deputy Superintendent of Police told the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa that the kidnap took place in the early hours of Friday.

Butswatt said the command did not receive information on the incident promptly but disclosed that investigation into the matter had commenced.

“Yes, the marine component of the police has been alerted and they are combing the creeks to find the whereabouts of the gunmen.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday; the problem is that the family members did not contact our men until 5am,” he said.

A family member, Mrs. Blessing Weke, told NAN that the gunmen had on July 1, sent a letter to the 85-year-old monarch, intimating him of their coming.

Weke said, “that four “heavily armed” gunmen arrived at the home of the monarch at about 1am.

“Chief’s wife was the first person to wake up before chief could wake up; as soon as they saw him, they grabbed him and ran away.

“They also took some money meant for the traditional marriage of one of the traditional ruler’s sons scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

“Finally, the wife was beaten up and was ordered to lead their way to the waterside, where they escaped in a speedboat.”

(NAN)