Sola Osofisan
01-07-2009, 06:57 PM
by Jimitota Onoyume & Samuel Oyadongha
IT was another sad commentary in the Niger Delta struggle for justice as criminals, Monday night, abducted one of Africa’s celebrated novelists, 74-year-old Captain Elechi Amadi, at his residence in Aluu community, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt.
But 23 hours after, about 9.40 p.m. last night, he regained his freedom. Family members reluctantly volunteered that he was let free in a bush not far from his Aluu village, from where he trekked home.
His abduction early yesterday immediately attracted condemnations from governors in the Niger Delta and the arts community, describing it as shameful and most embarrassing.
Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Timipre Sylva of Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively while reacting to the kidnap said it was utter criminality that has no relationship with “the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people for social and economic justice within the Nigerian federation.”
Confirming the development to Vanguard, spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state, Lt.-Col Sagir Musa, said “the unfortunate event occurred at about 9pm.
“Information at the disposal of the JTF Operation Flush Out indicated that one Captain Elechi Amadi (rtd) was abducted by yet-to-be identified gunmen at about 9.00hrs pm in his home town, Aluu on the outskirt of Port Harcourt.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Rita Inoma Abbey said: “As soon as Police got wind of the kidnap, policemen were quickly deployed to block strategic areas around the neighbourhood. She said she still could not imagine how they fled with the hostage despite the heavy security mounted by the police in the area that night.”
MORE (http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/25747/42/)
IT was another sad commentary in the Niger Delta struggle for justice as criminals, Monday night, abducted one of Africa’s celebrated novelists, 74-year-old Captain Elechi Amadi, at his residence in Aluu community, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt.
But 23 hours after, about 9.40 p.m. last night, he regained his freedom. Family members reluctantly volunteered that he was let free in a bush not far from his Aluu village, from where he trekked home.
His abduction early yesterday immediately attracted condemnations from governors in the Niger Delta and the arts community, describing it as shameful and most embarrassing.
Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Timipre Sylva of Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively while reacting to the kidnap said it was utter criminality that has no relationship with “the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people for social and economic justice within the Nigerian federation.”
Confirming the development to Vanguard, spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state, Lt.-Col Sagir Musa, said “the unfortunate event occurred at about 9pm.
“Information at the disposal of the JTF Operation Flush Out indicated that one Captain Elechi Amadi (rtd) was abducted by yet-to-be identified gunmen at about 9.00hrs pm in his home town, Aluu on the outskirt of Port Harcourt.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Rita Inoma Abbey said: “As soon as Police got wind of the kidnap, policemen were quickly deployed to block strategic areas around the neighbourhood. She said she still could not imagine how they fled with the hostage despite the heavy security mounted by the police in the area that night.”
MORE (http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/25747/42/)