Gunmen kidnap Sylva’s running mate’s 105-year-old mother in Bayelsa

Unknown gunmen have abducted Madam Ebifieghe Bikoroghe, 105-year-old mother of the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress deputy governorship candidate, Chief Wilberforce Igiri.

It was learnt that Madam Bikoroghe was forcibly seized in her residence at Forupa in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The centenarian was said to be abducted by the gunmen who came in two speedboats about one o’clock on Thursday morning.

Her abductors were said to have shot severally into the air to scare residents before forcing her into their waiting speedboats and whisked her away to an unknown destination in the creeks.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.

Butswat said, “One Ebifieghe Bikoroghe, female, 105 years  old, was abducted by unknown gunmen in her residence at Foropa community in Southern Ijaw LGA to an unknown destination.”

He said the Marine Police, operatives of the Operation Pulo Shield and the anti-kidnapping unit of the police had swung into action to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

The abduction of the old woman has continued to generate concerns on the rampant cases of kidnapping in the oil-rich state.

The Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation has condemned the abduction of the mother of running mate to former Governor Timipre Sylva in the upcoming governorship election.

Director, Media and Publicity, SICO, Chief Nathan Egba, regretted that cases of sea piracy and kidnapping had overwhelmed the security agencies in the state.

He recalled that last year, an uncle and guardian of Sylva also died in the hands of kidnappers.

He said, “Yet Governor Seriake Dickson keeps shouting about peace and security everywhere. It is also bad that even his own Political Adviser, Fynman Wilson, was abducted in his country home in Sagbama, and had to pay ransom before being released.

“We hereby appeal to those who have carried out this act to have compassion on our old mother in view of her age and please release her unharmed as she may not be able to withstand the rigours of this experience.”

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Dan-Kikile, condemned the abduction.

He expressed the sympathy of the state government with the Igiri family.

He urged the security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly act were arrested and brought to book.