Bayelsa: Gunmen kidnap Paramount ruler’s wife, Principal
Unknown gunmen on Saturday kidnapped the wife of the paramount ruler of Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Mrs. Tina Inegbagha.
The gunmen also made away with the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro, Mr. Egele Jack.
A member of the monarch’s family, Mr. Majesty Inegbagha, who confirmed the development to our correspondent in Yenagoa on Tuesday, said that the incident took place on Saturday.
He said the second victim of the abduction, Jack, hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking to newsmen at his palace on return from his trip, the Paramount Ruler, Righteous Inegbagha, called on the state government and security agencies to assist to ensure that his wife and the Principal were unconditionally released.
He also appealed to the kidnappers to set his wife free and prayed for her safe return.
The monarch said that from witnesses accounts, the gunmen who numbered more than seven, came with a twin engine speed boat, three were armed with AK 47 rifles, while others carried machetes and other dangerous weapons.
“The gunmen laid siege on the community for over two hours and carried out their nefarious activities – robbed and made away with cash and other valuables.
“Efforts by residents to salvage the situation proved abortive as they were armless and were threatened to submission as the kidnappers brandished their weapons and threatened to shoot any person who tried to put up any resistant ,” the monarch said.
The first son of the monarch, Mr Ogidi Inegbagha, who witnessed the incident, said the gunmen broke through the window in spite of his shouts, and pointed guns at him.
“They asked me, where is His Highness? Where is his Highness? I told them he had travelled. Then they asked me where is he keeping his money? And I told them I didn’t know.
“Hence they started beating me mercilessly with their guns and machetes. When my mother heard the noise, she came out through the sitting room door not knowing that the gun men had taken over the residence.
“They asked us to lie down flat facing the floor at gunpoint and forced my mother to lead them to my father’s private room where they searched and scattered documents looking for money.
“They also carried along with them the generator belonging to the Doctor’s Quarter kept at the Palace.
“As they were going with my mother, I followed them but they threatened to shoot me if didn’t go back while they took my mother to unknown destination,” Ogidi said.
Chris Eze, Yenagoa
