Ogoni Leaders Want Kidnapped NNPC Staff Freed

Ogoni leaders have called for the release of Monday Uebari, aged, 50, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Benin who was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen four days ago.

He was kidnapped from his house in Baen Village in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The people of Baen Community are calling for the immediate an unconditional release of their kinsman.

In a statement made available to P.M.NEWS in Port Harcourt this morning, and signed by the paramount ruler of the community, Ngbara Ekoro, Barnabas Nwiepe, Chairman of Community Development Committee,CDC, Latam Kole and other leaders of community, the people expressed displeasure over the abduction of Uebari, an engineer and a prominent son from the area.

The leaders of the community called on security agencies and the Rivers State Government to assist them in the release of their son.

Ben Ugwuegbulam (DSP), Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, had disclosed to newsmen in Port Harcourt, that the victim’s aide, Augustine Okosun, had at about 8am reported to Bori Police Station about the kidnapping of his master at about 6:15am by three armed men.

According to Ugwuegbulam, the police immediately embarked on a search for the man and by 10.30a.m., they were able to recover his black Passat car in which he was taken away, while efforts are being made to rescue him and arrest of the kidnappers.

The PPRO said, “on July 10, 2011, at about 08.00hours, Augustine Okosun came to Bori Police Station and reported that he arrived Baen Village last night with his master, Monday Uebari, a staff of NNPC Benin. That at about 6.15hours, three armed men entered the compound and kidnapped his master and put him in his black Passat 2009/2010 model.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area mobilised men for a search while Police Anti-kidnapping and SOS squad reinforced the search and rescue team. By 10.30hours the victim’s car was recovered along Kpean-Andoni Road. Efforts are being intensified to rescue the victim and arrest of the kidnappers.”

It has been gathered that four days after the kidnap no contact has been made with the family members of the victim and no ransom has been demanded by the kidnappers.

Ugwuegbulam told P.M.NEWS in a telephone interview that no contact has been established with the kidnappers and the whereabouts of the victim is unknown.

“We are doing everything we can to secure his release,” he said.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt