Caleb Tamunosaki
The men of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested the father of the suspect who is believed to be holding the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Federal Otokito.
Otokito was kidnapped at his residence at Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area, on Thursday night around 11 pm by some gunmen who whisked him away in a waiting speedboat.
Almost a week after the abduction, a deadly militant leader believed to be holding the abducted commissioner has not demanded ransom to release him.
Investigation revealed that the commissioner was kidnapped over his disagreement with a commander to a militant leader who has been trying to set up an illegal refinery centre in the community.
The Commander, who is a cousin to the abducted commissioner has allegedly recruited many gun-wielding youths of the community ahead of the resumption of the kpofire operations.
The disagreement between the Commissioner and his militant cousin came to a head when they disagreed again over the control of a community shrine in the area.
Although the traditional ruler of Otuokpoti made efforts to broker peace between the commissioner, a grassroots man who opted to live with his people rather than the commissioner’s quarters in Yenagoa, the militant commander was said to have threatened to deal with his cousin.
The source said that the commissioner is married to the first daughter of the paramount of Otuokpoti.
The source said that the commissioner was kidnapped barely a day after the disagreement between him and the militant leader.
It was, however, gathered that the militant leader had called the paramount ruler of Otuokpoti at about 5:30am on Saturday and told him that the commissioner was in his custody.
He was said to have told the community chief that he would not free Otokito until his father is released by the police.