Posted by By TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure on
Members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Monday kidnapped the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Mr Isaac Kekemeke. He was, however, released late Monday night.
Members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Monday kidnapped the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Mr Isaac Kekemeke. He was, however, released late Monday night.
Kekemeke was kidnapped in his home town Arogbo, during the Peoples Democratic Party's ward congress after the militants disarmed 10 mobile policemen attached to him.
The abduction of the SSG, Daily Sun gathered, may not be unconnected with the recent kidnap of 12 PDP chieftains in the state by MEND members.
The militants, according to their leader, Chief Biribor, decided to kidnap Kekemeke due to his alleged reckless utterances and arrogant disposition while the PDP chieftains' abduction saga lasted.
Kemekeme was said to have boasted that no militant could cross his path, a comment which made the militant group to strike at the PDP congress.
Biribor was said to have assured when the state's director of State Security Services (SSS) called him on Monday afternoon, that his group would not demand any ransom.
The MEND leader was quoted to have said that the SSG would be released in the next two days, warning the state government to caution him against making reckless statements on any issue relating to MEND in the state.
The abduction, it was gathered, disrupted the PDP ward congress as party members and delegates were said to have scampered for safety when the militants stormed the venue and grabbed the SSG.
Reacting to the incident, Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Eddy Olafeso, described it as a family affair, giving assurance that it would be resolved between the state government and MEND.
"It is purely a family affair and the issue will also be resolved internally. We don't want any intruder in this matter. Those guys are our brothers. It will be resolved amicably," Olafeso said.