Group condemns rising kidnapping menace in Edo, fingers an ex-agitator

A renowned advocacy group under the aegis of the Concerned Sons and Daughters of the Riverine Area of Edo State, a non-governmental organization which cuts across the five Ijaw clans in the State, namely Okomu, Furupagha, Egbema, Gbaran and Olodiama clans respectively have condemned the act of the recent kidnapping incidents allegedly perpetrated by some persons who are loyal to an ex-agitator Robert Okubo in Edo State.

The group, in a statement signed by its national coordinator Hon. Godstime Ogidigba, Hon. Olu Piriye Oyeh, Assistant coordinator and Comrade Ezekiel Daniel, spokesperson said, “It becomes necessary for the group to issue a statement to clear some gray areas as it had to do with crime in the state.

Recall, the governor of Edo State Senate Monday Okpebholo has
vowed that kidnappers caught in the state will face the death penalty, specifically by hanging, expressing readiness to sign the death
warrants of convicts.

The governor disclosed this at the
stakeholders’ session at the Uromi Town Hall, where he had an interactive session with
leaders and members of the Arewa community in Esan land.

The group pointed out that the Ijaw people are law abiding citizens, peace loving, security conscious and development oriented, adding that the world should not use the bad characters of some criminal elements whose crime runs in their (DNA) to tag the Ijaw people in the state, citing that even in the Bible among twelve disciples, one betrayed Jesus Christ.

They stated that the organization would not fold its hands and watch Ijaw’s name dragged to the mud as such, would unveil the masquerade behind the rising kidnapping activities in the state.

However, the group appealed to the Governor of Edo State and security agencies to invite Okubo Robert to provide all the kidnappers in the riverine area with their arms and ammunition, alleging that “he is their leader and is aware of their operations, as a matter of fact they are his structures because after kidnapping, they take the proceed to his resident,from there move to his hotel all at Inikorogha, where they shared the ransom.

“His Excellency, in a town hall meeting held at Uromi, Esan land ,you announced far reaching decisions like the death penalty for kidnappers, destruction of property like House,hotel that belong to them. We urge that let these steps be taken regarding Okubo and his criminal gang because this is the firm point that can bring about lasting peace to the riverine area”.

“We the leadership of the aforementioned organization wish to boldly state without missing words:
1. That the Ijaw people are law abiding citizens, peace loving, security cautious and developmental oriented. Even in the Bible among twelve disciples, one betrayed Jesus Christ, as a result the world should not use the criminal characters of some criminal elements whose crime runs in their (DNA) to tag the Ijaw people as lovers of crime.

“2. That this organization will not fold its hands watching Ijaw name to be dragged to the mud as such, will unveil the masquerade behind the rising kidnapping activities in the state.

“3. That the founder, the taproot,the originator and mastermind of kidnapping in Edo state is one Robert okubo, a notorious and unrepentant ex-agitator who hails from Inikorogha community in Ovia south west LGA of Edo State.
The first kidnapping was carried out in 2007 in the state, in which this serial killer recruited youths from Ikoro,Ekewan Gelegele  axis,The same year 2007, by kidnapping a south African lady, VICKY a tourist to Okomu national park Reserve located in Ovia south west LGA Edo State.

“This was the beginning of this nefarious activity because having seen the lucrative nature, they went full out , which led to the kidnapping of chief Engr Evbewan , pastor Osagha, Chief Osamede Adun ( aka Bob Izua) just to mention but a few.
He collected ransom of hundred millions of naira, then he enlarged his coast by recruiting youths from neighboring states of Ondo, Delta and Bayelsa state respectively.
Robert and his gang terrorizing activities were on until across the entire riverine parts of Edo, Delta ,Ondo,Bayelsa until 2009, when he was arrested by the Edo state police command.

“While he was in the custody of the police, he Embraced the presidential Amnesty program proclaimed to a repentant militant by the late president Musa Yaradua of blessed memory. Robert was released under the Amnesty program.

“However, Ijaw leaders rallied around him and pleaded on his behalf to the then Governor of Edo state Comrade Adams Oshiomohle that an idle mind is the devil workshop, therefore the Governor should consider Robert for a political appointment.
Comrade Oshiomohle been a listening Governor accepted the proposal. The delegation of Ijaw leaders who pleaded to Comrade was led by late Madam Victoria Potoki a retired warrant officer 2 in the Nigerian Army and other prominent Ijaw leaders.

“Robert was giving senior special assistant to the governor on waterway security and surveillance and was given the opportunity to recruit 150 youths as surveillance with payment of N50,000.00 for each boy’s monthly salary.
He shared the slots among his criminal boys,whom he was still using as front to carry out kidnapping. When they kidnapped people ,he would be the one to go for negotiation on ransom payment, from there get this own part of the deal,despite being part of the government.

“He became so power drunk in the riverine areas and started killings, oppress, arrest, maiming and seizure of innocent Ijaw people properties, tag them criminals and kidnappers anyone who raised voice against the criminal activities of his boys and his own tyrannical acts,but because he was in the government,he kept selling falsehood to power that be,this led to him been promoted to executive director.

“4, As the voice of the riverine area, we raised alarm to immediate past government and security agencies about the level of atrocious acts of Robert and his boys .
Having failed to honor a series of invitation letters, then commissioner of police,now AIG, Dankwara Mohammed directed his officer to arrest him , which led to Robert and his boys running out of the state for a year and 6 months. We make bold to say that the riverine experienced total peace, law, security and order while this pathological criminal and his boys were away,but since as soon as this government came on board, hell has been let loose again with the return of all manners of crimes.

“5. That this group will not fail to expose the fact that the recent rising of insecurity in the riverine area is a. Calculated attempt by Robert and his boys to create awareness to draw the attention of the state governor to appoint their boss Robert Okubo to take charge of the riverine area.

“6. That this organization is pleased with the Edo State government having zero tolerance for crime and criminalities, especially the bulldozing of criminal hideout and their resident which we equally want His Excellency to extend to the riverine part of the state, as some of these kidnappers from the riverine communities have Hotels and buildings which are proceeds from their kidnapping activity.

“7. That this group is appealing to the Governor of Edo State and security agencies to invite Okubo Robert to provide all the kidnappers in the riverine area with their arms and ammunition because he is their leader and is aware of their operation, as a matter of fact they are his structures because after kidnapping, they take the proceed to his resident,from there move to his hotel all at Inikorogha, where they shared the ransom. 7, His Excellency, in a town hall meeting held at Uromi, Esan land ,you announced far reaching decisions like death penalty for kidnappers, destruction of property like House,hotel that belong to them. We urge that let these steps be taken regarding Okubo and his criminal gang because this is the firm point that can bring about lasting peace to the riverine area.

“Finally, we appeal to his His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo not to appoint people of questionable characters into his government because there are people of integrity from the riverine area in his party to pick”, they added.