PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 24, 2013
Ex-army general kidnapped •Delta police rescue him in commando operation, kill one abductor, arrest 2 BY EMMA AMAIZE & FESTUS AHON
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four-man kidnap gang, demanding for N50 million ransom, on Wednesday, abducted a 67-year-old retired military officer, Major General Peter Unode, in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Lo-
cal Government Area of Delta State, blindfolded and chained him in their den for two days. They were waiting for the payment of the ransom negotiated with the family when the police, yesterday morning, stormed their den in an armada operation at about 8.00 am
and liberated the retired army officer. Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the operation, told Sunday Vanguard on phone that police killed one of the kidnappers in a gun battle at Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government
Area. Police also seized two of the gangsters, according to the commissioner, who hinted that the residence used as operational base by the gang would be set ablaze. Sunday Vanguard gathered the fourth kidnapper, who sustained bullet wound, was still at large, but police were hunting for him. Aduba’s words, “The general was kidnapped on Wednesday. In a fierce gun duel, one of the kidnappers was gunned down, the rescued general described the raid of the kidnapping den, where he was chained as commando type and praised the bravery of the tactically disciplined squad, led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO”. The commissioner, who disclosed that no ransom was paid, asserted that the kidnappers whisked away Major General Unode in an ash-coloured Sienna bus after his kidnap, along Ekiugbo road, Ughelli. Narrating his ordeal to
reporters, Unuode said, “I went with one S.O Oyibo who deals on bamboo sticks, along the Ughelli/ Port-Harcourt expressway. On getting there, we saw one Toyota Sienna, parked close to the caravan, where the bamboos were kept. “And we saw the owner of the Sienna car defecating close to the caravan and we expressed concern why the man was defecating close to the caravan, because another who wanted to buy 200 pieces of bamboo from Oyibo also went with us. After a while, we saw Oyibo discussing with the man and as I moved closer, they stopped the conversation and the man zoomed off in his Sienna. “After few minutes, the Sienna resurfaced and two boys emerged from it with pump actions and they were saying; na you say make our oga pack shit. They were three in the car, but only two came out and that was how I was bundled away through Amekpa. “After a while, I was blindfolded and whisked away with impunity. As we were going, they said I should give them N50
million, otherwise they would waste me. And I told them I do not have that kind of money and that I am a retired Army General. “And they took me to their hideout; a living environment. People in the area were speaking Isoko; the boys guiding me were also conversing in Isoko. I was hearing the sound of vehicles and motorcycles; the place was close to a busy road. And from that Wednesday that they took me until I was rescued by the police, I refused food. I lived on water all through. “Later they reduced the ransom fee to N20 million, later came down to N15, N10 and N5 million and the boys felt insulted when my son they were negotiating with mentioned N450,000. They seriously tortured me coupled with mosquito bites. The mosquitoes took advantage of me because I was properly chained to a chair and helpless. “I was chained on my ankle; my knees were tied; my hands were tied; my mouth was tied and I was still under blindfold. I was subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment”.
From left: Brig-Gen Cletus Emein(Old Student and former Military Administrator, Niger State), Rev(Dr) Hyacinth Egbebo(Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate), Mr William Bozimo(National President, Old Students Association and Foundation Senior Prefect), Justice Kate Abiri(Old Student and Chief Judge, Bayelsa State), Prof Patrick Muoboghare(Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education/Chairman of the Occasion), Prof Christopher Ikporukpo(Old Student and Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University/Guest Speaker) and Pastor Power Aginighan(Old Student and former Ag Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission), during the golden jubilee celebration of Govt. College, Bomadi, formerly St. Brendan’s College, yesterday.
Marginalisation: Egbema leaders kick
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HE leaders of Egbema kingdom, in Warri North local government, Delta State, have reiterated their dissatisfaction over the political marginalisation of Egbema Ijaw, and equally denied any fresh crisis with the Itsekiri in the area. Reacting to report in the Vanguard of 22nd, 2013 on 36, titled “Fresh Ijaw/ Itsekiri crisis looms in Warri North”, they maintained that the Egbema Ijaw will further agitate against their political marginalisation, but will
not encourage any violent agitation. The leaders, Chief E.E Ebimami, Elder G.E Lelekumo, Chief L.D.O Yebu, Apostle Sunny Jero, Chief Evans Abulu, Rev P. Obigha, and Chief James Ukulor, at a meeting in Warri , pointed out that the incident as reported in the paper further confirmed the marginalization of Egbema Ijaw, adding that it was completely misleading in the report that 300 persons were being held by Ijaw youths, and urged the public to disregard the report.