By Sampson Boroh
A former Nigerian ambassador to Venezuela, Senator Felix Oboro, has been released by his abductors after spending 23 days in their hideout in Bayelsa State.
It was alleged that the family of the former envoy had reportedly paid N10 million to secure his freedom on Saturday evening.
The 75-year-old former lawmaker and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was reportedly kidnapped on Friday, September 4, 2020 at his hometown Elemebiri, sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Oboro’s abductors had earlier allegedly demanded for N50 million ransom until it was dropped to N11 million but sources claimed the family finally paid N10 million to secure his release.
The gunmen numbering about fifteen stormed his residence twenty-four hours after he arrived the village in military uniforms and made away with their target amidst sporadic shooting on that fateful day.
A relation of the victim, Tuebi Ekiotimi, confirmed the release of the former ambassador on Sunday to journalists in Yenagoa.
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Ekiotimi said Oboro was released to the three-man delegation of family members who travelled on boat to drop the ransom demanded along the Ayama-Oporoma area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council.
He said, “contrary to the expectation of the family, Daddy (Felix Oboro) is strong and in a healthy state. When the news of his release came, everyone was happy and jubilating.
Reacting to the development, the National Spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council worldwide, (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Eerekefe condemned the abduction of the elder statesman, calling on the security agencies to ensure the arrest of those involved in the dastardly act.
The IYC spokesman said,”Senator Felix Oboro is a well-respected Ijaw leader and an elders statesman who has served the Ijaw Nation and Nigeria in different capacities. It’s quite unfortunate that he was treated unfairly by his abductor.
“He does not deserve the kind of treatment he’s going through considering his health challenges as an elder. The IYC will beef up its intelligence gathering system within the clans to support the security agencies effort at bringing the kidnappers to book.”
The Police had a few days ago through its Spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, assured the family of the abducted envoy of his safe return insisting that the Commissioner of Police in the state CP Mike Okoli is on top of the matter to ensure the safe release of Ambassador Felix Oboro.
