Group condemns abduction of commissioner’s wife in Delta

 

THE Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP) has condemned last Thursday abduction of Mrs Theresa Sakpra, wife of Delta State Commissioner for Special Duties, Governor’s Office, Mr Henry Afure Sakpra by unknown gunmen.

Executive Director of CENTREP, Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a signed statement made available to journalists on Monday in Warri, Delta State, described the action of the gunmen as evil.

Ikimi, who called on the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Zanna Ibrahim, to effect the release of the woman unhurt, blamed the rise in criminality in the country on bad governance among the political class.

He appealed to the abductors to leave their victim off the hook unconditionally and unhurt based on humanitarian ground.

“Gentlemen of the press, our attention has been drawn to the recent abduction of Mrs Theresa Sakpra, wife of the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties Governor’s Office, Delta State, Dr Henry Afure Sakpra near Ekete Inland Junction, Ekete by unknown gunmen and we condemn same as an act of pure evil.

“We appeal to the abductors of the above victim to immediately release her unhurt and unconditionally on humanitarian grounds.

“The above incident no doubt speaks volume of the massive youth unemployment and underdevelopment, massive decay of public infrastructure, pandemic poverty and the worsening state of insecurity in our present-day polity which is a byproduct of the frightening level of official corruption, looting of public funds, lack of probity, accountability, transparency and good governance by our political class.

“We believe that the solution to violent crimes in our society do not lie in the prescription of punishment by death sentence but in good governance.

“Though we concede that the above social ills are not an excuse for our youths to engage themselves in violent crimes, we call on the Delta Police Commissioner Mr Ibrahim Zannah to ensure that the victim of the above unruly act is promptly released unhurt and reunited with her family, while the culprits are arrested and made to face prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others in the unholy trade,” Ikimi posited.

Mrs Sakpra was allegedly kidnapped by arms-bearing gunmen last Thursday around DSC highway along with her car, which was eventually recovered on Friday.

The Delta State Police Command has yet to make a categorical statement on the abduction since the abduction of the woman.

As of Sunday night, a ransom tag had not been placed on the victim according to family sources.

But a group of youths, identified as Udu Youth Council had, on Sunday, appealed to the abductors to effect the release of the victim without no further delay.

They described the spate of kidnappings in the state as unbecoming and provocative.

President of the youth body, Mr Otito Yembra, in a statement made available to journalists in Warri, said the abduction was cowardly and a sad reminder of growing criminality in the area.

He called on the criminals to immediately set the victim free unhurt and unconditionally.