Gunmen Abduct Bayelsa Commissioner’s 78-Year-Old Mother

78-year-old Patimi Akene, the mother of the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Furoebi Akene was Tuesday abducted.

Patimi was kidnapped on Saturday by six gunmen at Ofoinbiri community as she was returning home from a church vigil in the community at about 1am on Saturday when the hoodlums swooped on her.

The commissioner, who confirmed his mother’s abduction, said the gunmen took her away without firing a gunshot.

“My mother was in company with one of her granddaughters when the armed men arrived at about 12 am and took her away.

“Preliminary investigation showed that the gunmen know her and have been studying her.”

He said the gunmen established contact with him on Sunday evening and demanded his resignation from the cabinet of Governor Seriake Dickson as ransom.

Akene added, “Someone that I suspected to be one of the kidnappers called me and said they don’t need my money. But that I should ‘withdraw’ from the present administration as commissioner. I think what they are demanding is for me to resign my appointment.

“My brother, I think the people interested in my job as commissioner in the state are the ones behind the abduction of my mother.”

Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, confirmed the incident.

Additional Content Credit PUNCH