Mrs Ebifieghe Dikoro, the 100-year-old mother of the Chief Wilberforce Agiri, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 Bayelsa election, has been kidnapped.

The centenarian was reportedly abducted by unidentified gunmen who came in a convoy of three speed boats at about 1am on Thursday.

She was taken away from her community in Foropa community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Astimin Butwat, an ASP, confirmed the incident but said details were still sketchy.

However, the abduction is being politicised by APC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, with the campaign organisations of the Chief Timipre Sylva and Governor Seriake Dickson pointing accusing fingers at each other.

Director of Publicity of the Sylva-Agiri Campaign Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, attributed the abduction to the alleged violent campaign embarked upon by the PDP candidate and State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.

The PDP, through the Chairman of the Bayelsa Media Team, Hon. Dan Kikile, said the abduction of the centenarian is condemnable, but maintained that the claims by the APC is unfounded and baseless.

Egba said: “We call on the PDP, particularly their Governorship candidate, to lower the political temperature in the state and lead by example as he seems to be preaching violence and insulting the APC leaders in all public events.

“The kidnap of the aged mother of the APC running mate is only the latest in rash cases of kidnapping and sea piracy that has apparently overwhelmed the security agencies.

“Recall that last year, the Uncle of our Governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, also died in the hands of kidnappers. Yet Governor Dickson kept shouting about peace and security.”

In his reaction, Kikile, who is also Bayelsa Commissioner for Information, said the Dickson administration had in the past raised an alarm over the increase in violent crimes in the state due to the activities of the APC.

His words: “We are aware that these security issues are created to deliberately call to question our record on peace and security.

“They know that one of the things we are showcasing is security and peace and restoration of law and order.

“Since they came, we have witnessed various kidnap cases of six traditional rulers in the State.

“The political adviser to the Governor was also kidnapped and now, the aged mother of the running mate of the APC. These people are desperate to put our good record into jeopardy.”

•Photo shows Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police.

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