By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—The peace of the riverside town of Tombia on the outskirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, was yesterday violated by armed men, who abducted the 92-year-old paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Christian Otobotekere.

The victim is the patron of Yenagoa Book Club, YBC, and father of Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state and former Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson.

Vanguard gathered that five heavily armed men stormed the community between 7.30a.m. and 8a.m. in a Toyota Camry car and shot sporadically into the air to scare away the natives.

Tombia is one of the communities in Gbarain clan that could be accessed through land and water.

The gun-toting youths were said to have marched to the residence of the victim’s monarch, where he was seized at gunpoint.

The nonagenarian was dragged to their car and driven to Amassoma-Tombia bridge, where he was transferred to a waiting speedboat by his kidnappers, who escaped into the creeks after setting the car ablaze.

A food vendor was hit by a stray bullet from the abductors and is currently receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said the marine police, JTF and the anti-kidnapping unit had moved into the creeks for the rescue and possible arrest of the suspects.

Meanwhile, YBC has expressed dismay over the abduction of its patron and called for his immediate release.

President of the association, Ebiowei Lawal and Secretary, Princewill Sede, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, lamented the increasing cases of kidnappings without the police making any arrest.