Ebebi Photo: Sun News Publishing

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A pall of gloom has descended on the family of Bayelsa State Accountant- General, Mr. Thomas Zidafamor as unknown gunmen stormed his community, Bolou-Orua in the Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and kidnapped his 91-year-old father, Pa Anderson Zidafamor.

Zidafamor’s abduction came just ahead of the release of Chief Simon Ebebi, father of the state Deputy Governor. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi who was freed at about 1p.m on Thursday.
Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the gunmen numbering about six came to the Bolou-Drua community in a speed boat at about 7p.m and shot sporadically into the air to scare the people.

It was gathered that the gunmen were precise on who they were after, as they went straight to the home of the Zidafamors and shot again to further put fear in his household before they whisked the old man away to the waterside and later disappeared into the creeks in their speed boats.

The youths in the community watched helplessly as the gunmen went into the night.
Calls were immediately placed to the Accountant-General in Yenagoa as well as security operatives to inform them about the incident.
All efforts to talk to Mr. Zidafamor were futile as his phone went unanswered. But family sources said the abduction of Pa Zidafamor was in a bid to extort money as no genuine agitator from the Niger Delta would kidnap an old man few days to Christmas.

The source also said no group has contacted the family to claim responsibility.
The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Commander in Bayelsa state, Lt. Col Chris Musa who confirmed the incident said security operatives were already investigating the kidnap.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Hon Ebebi has lashed out at his father’s kidnappers, describing them as criminals corrupting the Niger Delta struggle.

A visibly angry Ebebi, speaking at the Bayelsa Government House shortly after his father’s release Thursday afternoon, gave thanks to God that his father came out alive, but decried the maltreatment meted out the old man while he was in the custody of the kidnappers.
Chief Simon Ebebi, according to investigations, was released at about 1p.m to a delegation which comprised members of the Bayelsa Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, three militants’ leaders and the police along the Ekeremor/ Southern Ijaw waterways and got to the Government House jetty at4p.m before he was moved to the Government House

Ebebi who said his father’s kidnap had political undertone wondered why the man could be so maltreated that he looked quiet unkempt after his release
“The old man was seriously maltreated and I am sad because I am not going to treat anybody’s parent like that. Other people’s parents that were kidnapped were not maltreated. I am sorry that I sound personal, but I am not happy. The brains behind it should continue. Whatever goes round comes round. One day they would be political office holders and their own parents would also be kidnapped.”

He also lamented the situation whereby criminals masquerading as militants would engage in kidnap and break the law of the land with impunity, adding that no ransom would be paid on anybody kidnapped.
“Some militants played a part to secure his release but their inability to hand over the perpetrators leaves much to be desired. This means there is no law in the Niger Delta. It means the law that operates here is different from other parts of the country, that you cannot enforce law against criminals. I don’t know why they continue to kidnap our aged parents.

Just yesterday the 91-year-old father of the Accountant- General of the state was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Our society has degenerated to a state of lawlessness. We have not paid any ransom for anybody kidnapped and we would not pay. The Speaker’s mother, Hon. Yousuo’s mother, Hon. Henry Seriake’s Dickson’s mother, we did not pay anything. Genuine militants should cooperate with government to weed out criminal elements from the Niger Delta,” the deputy governor said further.

On the recent peace agreement signed by militants, the Federal and Bayelsa State Governments, Ebebi said it was left for the militants to keep their own side of the bargain. He explained that they had to put in extra efforts to frustrate activities of criminals as many people could no longer separate the activities of militants from those of criminals.
For those arrested during the investigations he said it was left for the security operatives to decide what would be done with them.