BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, YENAGOA

Barely four hours after he was relieved of his appointment following the dissolution of the state executive council ,gunmen yesterday violated the peace of Otuasega in the Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State and kidnapped the aged parents of the former Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Maxwell Oko.

The kidnapped parents were identified as Pa Erasmus Oko aged 79 and his wife, Mrs. Idemokumo Oko in her mid fifties.

Though the motive for the kidnap could not be immediately ascertained, it was however learnt that the incident occurred at about 9pm in the serene settlement when the father of the commissioner was about to be served his dinner.

The abduction of the parents of the former aide to Governor Timipre Sylva, the latest in the series of kidnapping in the delta after about twelve months lull in recorded cases of abduction in the predominantly riverine state was reportedly carried out by a six man gang.

It was gathered that four members of the gunmen had stormed the rural settlement in the early hours of the night in an unregistered red coloured Audi 80 salon to monitor their victims before swooping on them.

While the four armed men were said to have pulled the stunt at Otuasega, two of their accomplices were already stationed at the Okarki waterfront in neighbouring Rivers State in a waiting boat in which they escaped with their victims.

Sources told Saturday Vanguard that Pa Oko, a trader who is said to be suffering from arthritis due to old age was about to be served his dinner when the gunmen struck.

Some indigenes of the area told Saturday Vanguard that they had early sighted the red Audi 80 car without a plate number but did not know they were kidnappers waiting to strike.

As darkness enveloped the community ,the gunmen were said to have swung into  action and marched straight to the residence of their target where they snatched at gunpoint, the aunty of the former commissioner whom they thought was his mother in front of the house and dragged her into their car.

It was however gathered that the gunmen on realizing that their victim was not their target quickly dragged the terrified lady back to the house where they met the septuagenarian who was waiting for his wife to serve him his food.

The gunmen were said to have descended on the old man when his wife walked into the room and together, they were dragged away into their waiting vehicle which sped off towards neighbouring Okarki in Rivers State.