Gunmen abduct mother of Sylva’s running mate in Bayelsa

UNKNOWN gunmen have kidnapped the centenarian mother of Chief Timipre Sylva’s running mate, Madam Ebifieghe Dikoro, from her Foropa community in Southern Ijaw Local Council of Bayelsa State.

The 100-year-old mother of Elder Wilberforce Agiri, the deputy governor candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 gubernatorial election in the state, was reportedly kidnapped at about 1.00am yesterday by assailants who stormed the community in three speedboats.

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Astimin Butwat, who confirmed the incident, said details were unavailable as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the abduction has sparked off claims and counter-claims from the campaign organisations of Sylva and that of Governor Seriake Dickson.

While the Director of Publicity of the Sylva/Agiri campaign Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, attributed the kidnap to the alleged violent campaign embarked upon by the governor, the PDP, through the Chairman of the Bayelsa Media Team, Hon. Dan Kikile, said though the incident was condemnable, he stressed the claims by the APC was unfounded and baseless.

According to Egba, ”we call on the PDP, particularly the governorship candidate to lower the political temperature in the state and lead by example as he seems to be preaching violence and insulting the APC leaders in all public events.

“The kidnap of the aged mother of the APC governorship candidate’s running mate is only the latest in a rash of cases of kidnapping and sea piracy that has apparently overwhelmed the security agencies in the state. Recall that last year, the uncle and guardian of our governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, also died in the hands of the kidnappers. Yet, Governor Dickson kept shouting about peace and security,” he stated.

But Kikile said the Dickson administration had in the past raised an alarm over the increase in violent crimes in the state due to the activities of the APC, stating that: ”We are aware that these security issues are created to deliberately call to question our record on peace and security. They know that one of the things we are showcasing is security and peace as well as restoration of law and order.

“Since they came, we have witnessed various kidnap cases of six traditional rulers in the state. The Political Adviser to the Governor was also kidnapped and now the aged mother of the running mate of the APC. These people are desperate to put our good record into jeopardy,” he alleged.