How Clark"s son was released from kidnappers

Kiagbodo, the country home of elder statesman and national Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, was Sunday thrown into wild jubilation following the intervention by an ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, which led to the release of Clark’s son, Ebikeme, by kidnappers.

Edwin Clark

The younger Clark was last Wednesday abducted from Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State by masked gunmen operating through the local river in the community.

He was released in the early hours of yesterday after more than three days in the kidnappers’ custody at a boundary community between Delta and Bayelsa States, THISDAY learnt.

One of Clark’s personal aides, Prince Abugo, told THISDAY yesterday that the “atmosphere in Kiagbodo, as we speak now, could be likened to that of a carnival. There is much rejoicing because everybody is happy”.

Abugo said they were confident all along, “even at the time I spoke with you (THISDAY) on the phone on Friday, that Ebikeme would be released; it was just a matter of time”.

He said the elder Clark, who is presently a participant at the National Conference in Abuja, was elated at his son’s release and was grateful to everyone that helped in his release or empathised with the family while the ordeal lasted.

“Our daddy, Chief Clark, is happy Ebikeme has been freed. Everybody is happy he has been released. I can’t go into details now as to how he was released. But we thank God he has been released after intervention by some Niger Delta leaders. He is hale and hearty and no ransom was paid,” he said.

Speaking on his eventual release by his captors, Ebikeme told THISDAY in Warri that he regained his freedom through the direct intervention of Tompolo.

The politician, who spoke on the phone, further disclosed that his captors took him to a community around Bayelsa State. He however lamented that some community members appeared to be acting in concert or cooperating with the kidnappers in their criminal activities.

Ebikeme, who said he was released alongside another Ijaw chief, who had also been in the custody of the kidnappers in the creeks of Bayelsa State, confirmed that no ransom was paid for his freedom because Ekpemupolo personally intervened and indeed “ordered” his release.

He said: “As a matter of fact, Chief Tompolo ordered that I should be released unconditionally and they just complied. Tompolo ordered them (abductors) to release me in their own interest. He ordered them to free me and one Chief Boro Opudu. I was freed at about midnight or shortly after midnight.

“No ransom was paid for my release. I think they eventually freed us without asking for any money because they have people they listen to or they could be tracked down and eliminated. Perhaps, they were afraid of losing their lives.

“I’m sorry, I can’t give you full details now, but I thank Almighty God and everyone that ensured that I was freed.”

However, speaking earlier on his experience in the hands of his captors, Ebikeme said it was an ordeal, adding, “It couldn’t have been pleasant.”

According to him, “All I know is that they have people in the community aiding them to keep people. You eat whatever you are given… And you don’t expect it to be good enough, especially under the circumstances. I was taken to a community somewhere around Bayelsa State.”

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command, while confirming the release of Clark’s son, disclosed that several persons had been arrested by the police in connection with the criminal act.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu told THISDAY yesterday that a former driver of Ekpemukpolo, who allegedly gave information that facilitated the kidnapping, had been nabbed by the police.

Also arrested by the police, according to the spokesman, was the man who allegedly drove the boat with which the victim was ferried away via the Burutu River.

The wife of one of the kidnap suspects, who was in the criminals’ hideout at the time security operatives swooped on them, was also apprehended alongside an undisclosed number of other suspected members of the group.

Following the kidnap of the younger Clark, who contested the 2011 election to represent Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, a series of appeal and stern warnings were made by his father as well as numerous associates and Ijaw groups in Nigeria and abroad.

Some Ijaw youth groups had specifically demanded nothing less than the victim’s unconditional release, while threatening to hunt down the kidnappers if they failed to heed the warning.

How Clark"s son was released from kidnappers