Kidnapped ex-commissioner regains freedom in Bayelsa

Former Commissioner for Transport in Bayelsa State, Mrs Marie Ebikake
has regained the freedom to join her immediate and extended family after
spending over 14 days in the hands of suspected gunmen that kidnapped
her to an unknown destination.

Though the soldier abducted by sea pirates in separate incident is
still in missing, as his whereabouts remain unknown.

Ebikake, it was learnt regained freedom at about 3 am on Friday
State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP, Asinim Butswat, confirmed
the development in a telephone chat on Friday.

Butswat said that he did not have details on the terms of how she
regained her freedom.

“I can confirm that the former Commissioner has been freed and reunited with her family but I do not have the details,” Butswat said.

Ebikake was kidnapped at her residence in Igbogene area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

When asked to know how much ransom was paid to secure her release, Butswat said the command is not privy to that information but could assure that the ex-commission has joined her family and political associates in Yenagoa.

Political allies that called for her unconditional release from her abductors were also elated as they also welcomed her at her Igbogene residence.

Neighbours were in celebration mood, as they welcomed her and stressed the need for her to her doctor concerning the state of health.

The soldier was abducted by suspected sea pirates between the waterway of Foropa and Auzuama area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The soldier, identified simply as Rotimi, was on board a passenger boat on to Yenagoa while the boat driver was shot in the shoulder.

Ebikake, who hails from Brass Local Government Area, was a former Local government chairman in the area.