Gunmen abduct 85-yr-old monarch

Police in Bayelsa on Friday, September 4, confirmed suspected abduction of 85-year-old Paramount Ruler of Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Benjamin Weke, by gunmen.

Spokesman of police command in the state, Mr Asinim Butswatt, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the kidnap took place in the early hours of Friday.

“Yes, the marine component of the police has been alerted and they are combing the creeks to find the whereabouts of the gunmen.

“The incident occurred in early hour of Friday; the problem is that the family members did not contact our men until 5 a.m.,’’ he said.

A family member, Mrs Blessing Weke, told NAN that the gunmen had on July 1, sent a letter to the 85-year-old monarch, intimating him of their coming.

Weke said that four ‘’heavily armed ‘’ gunmen arrived at the home of the monarch at about 1 a.m.

‘’Chief’s wife was the first person to wake up before chief could wake up; as soon as they saw him, they grabbed him and ran away.

“They also took some money meant for the traditional marriage of the one of the traditional ruler’s sons scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

“Finally, the wife was beaten up and was ordered to lead their way to the waterside, where they escaped in a speedboat,” she said.