IYC Moves To Rescue President Jonathan's Foster Father

BEVERLY HILLS, February 26, (THEWILL) - The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) said on Wednesday that it would do everything possible to secure the release of President Goodluck Jonathan's foster father, Chief Inengite Nitabai, who was kidnapped at gunpoint Sunday night at  Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area Of Bayelsa State.

Vowing to work with security agencies to secure the release of the 70-year-old man from his abductors, IYC condemned the kidnap and promise to help unmask those behind the dastardly act.

IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, said in a statement issued   Wednesday that the foremost Ijaw Youth group had already constituted a three-man committee to liaise with the security agencies to rescue the old man.

"The Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide condemns in the strongest term, the kidnap of the 70-year-old foster father of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Bayelsa State of Nigeria on Wednesday, 25, February, 2014," he said.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the group said the incident was coming at a time when  President Jonathan needed to be fully concentrated to face the challenges of governing   Nigeria.

He therefore, extended consolation to the Jonathan/Nitabai family of Otuoke, saying that IYC would work with security agencies to fish out the kidnappers.

Maintaining that there is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in ijawland, IYC reiterated that kidnapping and criminality is alien to ijaw culture.

The group said it  believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment.

Omara added that this formed the basis why the group had resolved to confront kidnapping and all forms of crimes in ijawland.

The group  also called on the Bayelsa State Government to ensure that the kidnappers of   nitabai are brought to book and its anti-kidnapping law tested.

The statement  contended that kidnapping and criminality cannot stop without bringing to justice those involved in the act.

The gunmen had seized Nitabai in his family compound and whisked him away in a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

His wife, in a bid to stop his abduction, had allegedly offered the gunmen about N400,000 to no avail.

However, the Bayelsa State Police Command said two persons have been arrested in connection with the abduction and are helping security operatives in their investigation.