Bayelsa Monarch abducted by Gunmen in Rivers

Barely two days after the Rivers State police command arrested one Emeka Mishack, a member of a kidnapping gang, which among other operations, kidnapped a five year-old boy in Omoku, another group of kidnappers has abducted a traditional ruler in Port Harcourt.

The victim, King Oweipa Jones Ere III, the traditional ruler of Ogboin Kingdom in Bayelsa State, was abducted on Sunday in Port Harcourt by heavily armed men, who had been on his trail. Reports say that the traditional ruler was at a project site when the gunmen arrived the place, and forced him inside a vehicle before speeding off.

The king, who is a first class monarch, was the father of the day at the recently-concluded Amassoma Seigben Fishing Festivals in Bayelsa, which also had Governor Timipre Sylva as the Guest of Honour.

Since the incident, no person or group has claimed responsibility of the abduction of the monarch who is the traditional ruler of the home town of former Governor Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha.

Confirming the report, the Rivers State police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that the police only knew of the incident around 2 p.m. on Monday when the matter was reported at the Rumuji Division.

He also said that the police have visited the scene of the crime, and that efforts were being made to apprehend the culprits.

“At about 1400 hours, one Patrick Ayibalua of Bebeliduro, Bayelsa State reported at Rumuji Division, Omohua that one King Oweipa Jones Sere JP, the Ebenanaowei of Ogboin Kingdom, was kidnapped on 26/06/2011,” he said in a statement.