Jonathan’s Daughter’s Wedding Stalls Clark’s Son’s Rescue

Yesterday’s wedding of the adopted daughter of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State frustrated efforts to rescue the son of Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin Clark, Ebikeme, who was abducted by gunmen in Delta State on Wednesday.

YemojaNews learnt that security agents were compelled to stay action in storming the den of the kidnappers due to the exigencies of the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the president.

Reliable sources within the security circles told YemojaNews that some of the security chiefs who were detailed to supervise the rescue operations were later withdrawn to provide security at the high-profile event.

Meanwhile, Clark yesterday dared the kidnappers, declining payment of ransom.

The kidnappers had on Friday handed down a 24-hour ultimatum to Clark to pay N60 million or risk the life of his son.

Rather, the family said it has uncovered the identities of the kidnappers and warned the hoodlums to release Ebikeme unhurt in their own interest.

The family’s spokesman, who also doubles as its lawyer, Mr Dickson Bekederemo, warned that nothing untoward must happen to Ebikeme.

He said, “Underground checks carried out by the family have revealed the identities of the kidnappers. We’ve identified all those involved now and our position, right from day one, is that they must release him unconditionally.

“If that is not done, if anything happens to him, they know the Ijaw custom very well — it is life for life; we’ll go after them; it is a declaration of war. They and their families will know no peace.”

Bekederemo lamented that the kidnap of the Ijaw national leader’s son was an embarrassment to the Ijaw nation, adding, “We’ll not take it from them. Clark symbolises the voice of the Ijaw man; when they needed a voice to speak for them, he came out at the risk of his life. So we see no reason why an Ijaw son would want to embarrass this man, who has made the ultimate sacrifice for them.”