•Kidnappers collect N50m ransom, release monarch after nine days in kidnappers’ den

•Irate residents protest lawlessness; Oro nation to invoke the gods

By Egufe Yafugborhi

UYO—LEADERS and residents of  Mbo Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State, raged with  anger following an unconfirmed report that some youths of the community conspired with a gang of kidnappers to abduct the paramount ruler,  HRM Ogwong Okon A.  Abang, released after spending nine days in kidnappers’ den yesterday

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Akwa Ibom Command, ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the monarch’s release, said, “Yes, it is true”.  The PPRO did not give indication whether money changed hands. 

However, one community leader told NDV,  “The monarch was released early this morning (Monday) and I can tell you the abductors collected N50 million to release him.”

“The community is bitter, especially from the realisation that some youths from within,  were among the kidnappers. We have vowed to get to the bottom of this and bring them to book.

“This whole thing is induced by sheer greed and envy by some mischievous community stakeholders over the exalted stool the paramount ruler occupies.

“Concerned residents took the monarch to the hospital for proper medicare while his wife, Obonganwan Okon Abang,  also shot by the kidnappers, who abducted her husband,  was recuperating fast at the hospital, and would be discharged soon.”

The events that led to the kidnap of the monarch, which heightened tension in the state, unfolded on May 18 when gunmen stormed the Ebughu Palace at about 9 pm.

The development had heightened concerns over the worsening insecurity in the state, particularly killing and kidnapping of important personalities, with Oro ethnic bloc of the state most vulnerable due to its collapsed road network and porosity of its waterways.

Insiders’ job —Source 

A reliable source informed NDV shortly after the kidnap of the traditional ruler  that youths of his community spearheaded the  crime.

He said, “From investigations, some of the abductors are youths of the community, Ebughu. The abductors are demanding N100 million to release the monarch.” 

“They  shot the monarch and he was critically bleeding. We never knew they shot him, as he resisted them while they dragged him from the palace the Saturday night they invaded.

 “We first found the wife, Obonganwan Okon Abang, shot in the leg as she helplessly struggled  with them to leave her husband alone.”

The source reiterated yesterday, ” I heard that envious stakeholders conspired with some youths to recruit kidnappers to rattle the king and make money for themselves.”

 “They plotted the dangerous scheme but the community will take step to unmask them.” 

Gov Eno high and dry

Aside from reportedly directing the swift transfer of the wounded monarch’s wife to a specialist hospital for intensive care, Governor Umo Eno has kept habitual silence on the state government’s involvement in efforts to free the abducted monarch.

Amidst encomiums from political associates over projects delivered in his first year in office, the governor increasingly feels the heat of disappointment from the terrorized populace on his stewardship.

Considering the security of lives and property as a core responsibility, many Akwa Ibomites see Governor Eno’s apparent vulnerability in dealing with resurgent violent crimes, particularly gruesome murders and kidnapping for ransom, as a drawback.

Oro worst hit

With Oro nation traversing five local government areas most vulnerable, the spate of abduction has made living in that strategic economic and political bloc in the state horrible for residents, who live in fear, and many residents migrating themselves and businesses out of Oro.

Among the latest victims of the reign of terror in the past four weeks, aside from HRM Abang, was a prominent medical expert abducted in Oron on April 30, Dr. John Robbin Esu.

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in the state, declared a statewide strike until May 21 when the kidnappers released him.

The state NMA Chairman, Prof Emem Abraham, who acknowledged the valued role played by the governor and the police in securing the release of their colleague never delved into the ransom paid in the process.

She said, “The association immensely appreciates the government of Akwa Ibom State for the commitment shown as well as the security agencies in the state, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police, for their display of professionalism during the period of our travail.”

A source disclosed:  “You do not expect the authorities to reveal ransom, but who in the state does not know that ransom was paid? Ransom was paid, something in the region of N14 million for the doctor to be released. Why do you think he spent 20 days in the kidnappers’ den? “

Within the period, kidnappers abducted within Oron nation the wife of a prominent youth leader, Asukwo Eweme Ulap Okon, alias Levile. It has not been confirmed if she has regained freedom.

Anxieties spread

As worries spread across Oro nation over the spate of kidnappings and killings, youths from all five local government areas of that Akwa Ibom ethnic bloc have staged protest marches over the ostensible lack of control.

Though a protest planned in Oron, the traditional capital of Oro nation, a couple of days following the abduction of the Mbo king was reportedly suppressed by the traditional authority, residents could not defile the warning by the youths for all businesses to be shut on Wednesday last week.

 “The atmosphere was tense, markets, schools, and banks were closed,  and local government secretariats deserted in Oron. People are angry,” an Oron resident NDV

The peeved youths vented their anger in an encounter with members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Governments, who had moved into Oro region in an ongoing oversight tour of local government areas to ascertain the stewardship of caretaker administrations appointed to lead the councils pending conduct of next council elections.

The youths carried placards of varying inscriptions calling on the government to save the Oro nation from the prevailing reign of terror.

Some of the placards read: “Our only source of livelihood, maritime businesses have been disrupted”, “Visitors and investors doing businesses in Oro nation have left”, “Our Paramount Ruler was kidnapped in his palace, and we want action,” amongst others.

Urging Governor Eno to issue an official statement on the collapsed security over Oro nation, one of the youth leaders, Etim Bassey, lamented the arrested development that now prevails in the once-bubbling Oro locality.

Bassey told the lawmakers that Oro nation wants an urgent end to the increasing sea piracy, armed robberies, kidnapping, and sundry crimes on their land, disclosing that “fishermen and marine businesses in Oron waterways now pay forced levies to sustain their businesses for fear of being killed or their businesses destroyed.”

They also lamented alleged negligence by the Nigerian Navy while appealing to the House of Assembly to impress it on the five Oro local government chairmen to reside in their respective domains of administration “to understand the plight of the people.”

Lawmakers promise to 

table complaints before 

gov

Responding, Deputy Speaker of the House, Kufre-Abasi Edidem (Itu), and Chief Whip,  Effiong Johnson (Mbo), promised to table the grievances and concerns before the governor, asserting: “The governor has been working round the clock for the interest of the entire state.

President of the Oro Youths Movement, OYOM, Edet Eyo, presumed the government and security agencies were helpless in handling the security situation.

Police quiet on 

intervention

When news of the kidnap of the Mbo monarch filtered, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Waheed Ayilara, in the company of other service commanders and Gen. Koko Essien, (retd), State Commissioner of Internal Security, registered swift presence at the Ebughu Palace of the victim, where they declared to go after the kidnappers and improve security in the increasingly volatile Oro nation.

Commissioner Ayilara was  economical with public statements on the monarch, preferring to say less and take more action with stakeholders, NMA, in the latest case, acknowledging his hand in rescue efforts. 

“I can confirm that in Oron and other flashpoints, including Enugu, where the king was abducted, there has been the presence of joint security teams involving the police and soldiers. They are seen in many places,” an Oron resident said days before HRM Abang’s release. 

Citizens mull self-help

Until the paramount ruler’s release yesterday, youths of Oro nation were mulling self-help.

One youth leader asserted, “Youths protests may continue over the spate of kidnapping. I can tell you that the traditional authority will likely resort to self-help. It has concluded a plan to invoke the gods of the land to go after the criminals.

“Recall that when cult violence was inducing frequent killings in Oron, that was what the custodians of our culture did and it stemmed the tide. That time is before us again as a people,” an Oron community leader affirmed.

Monarchs keep mute

Among members of the Akwa-Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, there was a profound reluctance to speak on the insecurity and the plight of their kidnapped colleague.

One traditional ruler said, “It is not something we just come out to speak about at will publicly. I, too, have been a victim of kidnap before.” 

“God helped to rescue me from them, therefore, I know how it feels. But to speak about it has to be an organised decision of the state council of chiefs, not individuals just talking. You talk, and they might come after you.”