The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday, told gunmen, who abducted a former Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, to immediately release her unconditionally.
The youths, who described the incident as abominable, unacceptable, barbaric and condemnable, vowed to assist security agencies to arrest and prosecute the hoodlums.
Speaking in Yenagoa, IYC Central Zone Chairman Mr Tare Porri, asked misguided youths to apply caution and stop acts capable of embarrassing the Ijaw nation.
Porri said it was abominable for anybody to be kidnapped in Ijaw land, adding that the abduction of Ebikake was most despicable.
Describing Ebikake as a respected mother in the state, Porri asked her captors to spare no thought in releasing her without asking for ransom.
“We want to condemn the act in its entirety and then call for caution. I do not see reason why the Ijaw will kidnap a fellow Ijaw. I don’t want to believe that the kidnap was orchestrated by Ijaw people.
“As custodians of the Ijaw struggle, we don’t think it is ideal for an Ijaw man to kidnap a fellow Ijaw man. It is an abomination. It is unfortunate that in this 2018, people are still talking about kidnapping other human beings. It is unfortunate we have found ourselves in this situation.
“So, I use this opportunity to call on security agencies to redouble our efforts to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice. I call on youths to desist from this act. These acts are inimical to our development as a people.
“I appeal to the captors to release this woman unconditionally. She is our mother and she is one woman that has made a lot of sacrifices for this state. So, whoever that is responsible should release this woman immediately without demanding ransom.
“We won’t allow criminals to always embarrass the Ijaw nation. We have reached out to all the security agencies to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. We are just trying to recover from the attack on Ndoro community and the next thing is this kidnapping.
Porri expressed fears that the incident could be politically-motivated ahead of the 2019 election and called on politicians and leaders to be mindful of their personal security.
The Nation gathered that the health condition of Mrs Ebikake was a source of worry to her family members, friends, political associates and other stakeholders.
A friend of Ebikake, who spoke in confidence said, they were scared of her health situation, disclosing that the woman is diabetic.
“She has been treating diabetes and we are praying for her to survive this attack. How can she survive without her drugs and the special food she eats? These kidnappers should set her free,” he said.
