Gunmen Kidnap Senator’s 90-Year-Old Mother In Bayelsa

Latest reports emanating from Bayelsa state, south-south Nigeria indicate that some unknown gunmen had kidnapped Senator Emmanuel Paulker’s 90-year-old mother.

According to The Nation report, the abduction of the federal lawmaker's mother, Florentina, took place on Wednesday morning, 29 July, 2014, at her residence in Opolo-Epie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Residents of the area informed that Florentina was being kidnapped for the second time in four years.

It was gathered that on 23 February, 2010, the old woman was abducted by armed youths who later demanded N100million to set her free.

She was later rescued in March 2010, by security operatives who reportedly gunned down one of the kidnappers along Immiringi road during a gun battle.

 * Senator Emmanuel Paulker

A source, who claimed to live very close to the area where the abduction took place, informed Legit.ng that gun shots were heard all over the community when the abduction took place. 

He added that for fear of being hit by stray bullets, no resident in the area was able to come out.

It was also gathered from the source that Senator Paulker had been informed of the tragic incident and that the kidnappers drove towards Ogbia local government area on their way out of the area.

A security source also said that the kidnappers were five in number when they stormed the area, adding that they were fully armed with AK47 and other rifles.

“They came through the main road. They drove a vehicle into the community and immediately started shooting into the air to create panic among people who were fast asleep.

“They forced the door open, seized the woman and whisked her away to an unknown place. Some residents thought the kidnappers were armed robbers.

“Some of the residents later came out and started shouting ‘thief, thief’ only to discover later that the woman had been abducted,” the source who pleaded anonymity said.

As at the time of compiling this report, it was not ascertained if the abductors have got in touch with the family of the kidnapped aged mother.

When contacted the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, confirmed the development and said one of the suspected kidnappers had been arrested.

He said the suspect was helping the police in their investigations.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that a 77-year-old kidnapped mother of the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Surv Furoebi Akene, was freed on 16 June, 2014 after being kidnapped for three days.

Madam Patimi was reportedly abducted on 16 June without any gunshot and whisked away by armed men numbering about six from her home close to the Fonibiri community waterside at about 12am.

Source: Legit.ng