Kidnappers free Bayelsa commissioner as Diri deposes monarch
Federal Otokito, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, has regained his freedom.
Otokito’s abductors held him for five days, before his release on Monday.
While being shown to the state governor, Duoye Diri at the state house in Yenegoa, it was obvious that Otokito had sustained some wounds from his ordeal.
However, there was no information on how he came about the plastered wounds.
Due to the incident, Governor Diri announced the deposition of the paramount ruler of Otuokpoti community, Chief A.C.T Wongo. He appointed Chief Rescue Abe as the acting paramour ruler instead.
The governor also sacked Azibalua Amon as the chairman of the community’s development committee. He appointed Jerry Offor to take Amon’s place, while Shedrach Afiemo replaced Emolem Igue, who was formerly the youth president.
The Bayelsa State Government alleged that the affected persons were “complicit in the kidnap of the commissioner”.
Governor Diri vowed to prosecute criminals operating in the state.
“Bayelsa will not condone crime and criminality. We have zero tolerance for crime. Let this be a warning to all those who have taken that as a way of life that Bayelsa is not a state for them”, he said.
“We have anti-kidnapping laws and they will be invoked at all times. As a government, we will do everything to ensure peace for people of the state,” added the governor.
