Gunmen abduct ex-Bayelsa acting governor’s wife
Five gunmen in army uniform have kidnapped Mrs. Martha Binabo, the wife of former Bayelsa State Acting Governor Nestor Binabo.
She was snatched on Monday at her warehouse, located between Azikoro Village and Agbura.
Binabo, a former House of Assembly Speaker, was inaugurated acting governor in 2011, following a court judgment that sacked the Timipre Sylva administration.
The bandits were said to have stormed Mrs. Binabo’s warehouse at 11:30am.
The woman, a major distributor of Guinness products, was reportedly driven away to an unknown place in a Toyota vehicle.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums arrived the expansive warehouse when their target was plaiting her hair.
The source added: “Two of the gunmen alighted from the vehicle and accosted the woman. They told her that they were sent by the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Pulo Shield, to bring her to their headquarters.
“The woman’s workers did not raise any alarm as the bandits forced the woman into their vehicle and zoomed off. They fired no bullet before taking her away.”
There were insinuations that the kidnapping was politically motivated.
Binabo is among leading members of a group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposing Governor Seriake Dickson’s second term in 2016.
His camp believes the kidnapping was carried out to intimidate and cow Binabo, who is said to be an obstacle to the governor in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
A source in the camp, who spoke in confidence, said: “Ahead of the election, there is a group of gunmen dressed in army uniform, parading the state and kidnapping people. We don’t know who is behind the gang.
“We are aware that members of the have been trailing prominent members of this camp. We are appealing to the police and other security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.”
The Azikoro home of the Binabos was a beehive of activities yesterday.
Politicians have been trooping to the place to sympathise with the family.
Binabo, who confirmed the incident, urged the abductors to release his wife.
Also, police spokesman Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the gunmen wore military camouflage.
The police spokesman said Mrs. Binabo, 48, was abducted on the premises of her business, Seleyibo Multi-Global Company Limited.
He identified the assailants’ vehicle as a Toyota Camry with chassis number JTDBE32K62010530 and an unidentified registration number.
Butswat said the abductors took their victim to Otuokpoti sand dump in Ogbia Local Government Area, set the car ablaze and ferried Mrs. Binabo on a speedboat to an unknown destination.
He said: “At 11:30 hours, five gunmen in military camouflage went to the premises of Seleyibo Multi-Global Company Limited at Agbura, in Yenagoa Local Government Area. They called the director of the company, Madam Martha Nestor Binabor, 48, outside the company’s gate for a talk.
“Consequently, they forced her into an ash-coloured Toyota Camry car with unknown registration number and chasis number JTDBE32K620105302. They drove to Otuokpoti Sand Dump in Ogbia Local Government Area.
“They set the Toyota Camry car ablaze, took the victim into a waiting speedboat and sped off to an unknown destination.
“The Marine Police, JTF and Anti-Kidnapping Unit have been alerted. A massive manhunt has been launched to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors. Investigation is ongoing.”
She was snatched on Monday at her warehouse, located between Azikoro Village and Agbura.
Binabo, a former House of Assembly Speaker, was inaugurated acting governor in 2011, following a court judgment that sacked the Timipre Sylva administration.
The bandits were said to have stormed Mrs. Binabo’s warehouse at 11:30am.
The woman, a major distributor of Guinness products, was reportedly driven away to an unknown place in a Toyota vehicle.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums arrived the expansive warehouse when their target was plaiting her hair.
The source added: “Two of the gunmen alighted from the vehicle and accosted the woman. They told her that they were sent by the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Pulo Shield, to bring her to their headquarters.
“The woman’s workers did not raise any alarm as the bandits forced the woman into their vehicle and zoomed off. They fired no bullet before taking her away.”
There were insinuations that the kidnapping was politically motivated.
Binabo is among leading members of a group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposing Governor Seriake Dickson’s second term in 2016.
His camp believes the kidnapping was carried out to intimidate and cow Binabo, who is said to be an obstacle to the governor in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
A source in the camp, who spoke in confidence, said: “Ahead of the election, there is a group of gunmen dressed in army uniform, parading the state and kidnapping people. We don’t know who is behind the gang.
“We are aware that members of the have been trailing prominent members of this camp. We are appealing to the police and other security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.”
The Azikoro home of the Binabos was a beehive of activities yesterday.
Politicians have been trooping to the place to sympathise with the family.
Binabo, who confirmed the incident, urged the abductors to release his wife.
Also, police spokesman Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the gunmen wore military camouflage.
The police spokesman said Mrs. Binabo, 48, was abducted on the premises of her business, Seleyibo Multi-Global Company Limited.
He identified the assailants’ vehicle as a Toyota Camry with chassis number JTDBE32K62010530 and an unidentified registration number.
Butswat said the abductors took their victim to Otuokpoti sand dump in Ogbia Local Government Area, set the car ablaze and ferried Mrs. Binabo on a speedboat to an unknown destination.
He said: “At 11:30 hours, five gunmen in military camouflage went to the premises of Seleyibo Multi-Global Company Limited at Agbura, in Yenagoa Local Government Area. They called the director of the company, Madam Martha Nestor Binabor, 48, outside the company’s gate for a talk.
“Consequently, they forced her into an ash-coloured Toyota Camry car with unknown registration number and chasis number JTDBE32K620105302. They drove to Otuokpoti Sand Dump in Ogbia Local Government Area.
“They set the Toyota Camry car ablaze, took the victim into a waiting speedboat and sped off to an unknown destination.
“The Marine Police, JTF and Anti-Kidnapping Unit have been alerted. A massive manhunt has been launched to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors. Investigation is ongoing.”
No comments:
Post a Comment