The kidnapped son of Chief Edwin Kiagbogbodo Clark, Mr. Ebikeme Clark, who had been kidnapped by gunmen, has regained his freedom without payment of ransom.
This was contained in a press release issued by Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) spokesman, Eric Omare.
It said the Ijaw Youth Council and Ijaw youths insisted on his unconditional release and joined forces with security agencies towards his release, saying that it was a triumph of collective will against criminality.
According to the statement, this has clearly demonstrated to the entire world and Nigerians in particular that crimes only thrive in a society when it is condoned and given tacit support by members of the society.
It stressed that “IYC believes that there is a valuable lesson to be learnt from this experience by Nigerians and the Nigerian government in the fight against crimes especially terrorism in the Northern part of the country.”
The statement added that IYC thanked the Ijaw Nation and Niger Deltans, in general, for their resolve against criminality and called on other Nigerians to borrow a leaf, especially in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
The statement said: “We commend the efforts of ex-Niger Delta agitators led by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chief Boro Opudu, Vice
Chairman of the Delta state Waterways Security Committee and members of the Delta state Waterways Security Committee towards the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark. While expressing our appreciation to security agencies and the governments of Delta and Bayelsa states for their efforts, we once again call on oil companies and state governments in the Niger Delta region whose oil revenue has increased as a result of the cessation of militancy in the
Niger Delta to live up to their responsibility of providing and creating jobs in the post amnesty era. The fight against kidnapping, oil theft and other social vices in the Niger Delta region cannot be successful without relevant stakeholders taking drastic steps to address the economic situation of our people.”
