Gunmen abduct 72-yr-old retired principal in Bayelsa

Fresh case of abduction has occurred in Bayelsa State, as unknown gunmen have kidnapped a 72-year-old retired principal, Chief Sunday Festus in the early hours of Monday from his residence in Bomo clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Leighe Festus, son of the abducted septuagenarian, told Metro in Yenagoa that his father was not only diabetic, but critically ill as of the time of his kidnap.

According to him, the incident occurred at about 3.26 a.m, when a four-man gang of kidnappers arrived at the Foinbiri waterside at about 3.10 a.m. and went straight to the victim’s residence, broke the protectors and forced him out of his room into a waiting double 75 horsepower speedboat.

Continuing, he noted that his father’s abduction followed a big bang on his door and command that he should follow them, though attempt to resist them by Master Ikiotari Festus (his 13-year-old son) left him with injuries, as they hit him on the head with the butt of their guns.

Festus averred that the heartless kidnappers dragged his father on the ground to the waterside, after shooting sporadically into the air to scare and scuttle and resistance from the community.

He said further that having succeeded in abducting their victim, they headed towards Opuama community and at Oyeregbene, they attempted to steal an engine boat, but later engaged an oil and gas surveillance patrol gunboat while escaping with their victim in a bid to pave their way from the security patrol on the waterway.

Continuing, he posited that when they got to Oyeregbene and Sangana waterways in Brass Local Government Area, they meandered into a small creek and disappeared into thin air, as nobody could ascertain their next location.

Festus pointed out that the motive behind the abduction of his diabetic father might not be unconnected to plot to extort money from his elder brother, Barrister Daumiebi Festus, who is a real estate mogul and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

When contacted, the Bayelsa Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Asinim Butswat, said he was on leave, but promised to interface with the command and send feedback as soon as possible.