Chief Collins Adikoko, a Deputy Paramount Ruler in Ikeinghenbiri, a coastal settlement in the creeks at Southern Ijaw local government area in Bayelsa has been abducted by gunmen.

It was gathered that three gunmen had stormed the premises of the victim at about 2 am on Saturday and whisked him away in a waiting speedboat to an unknown destination.

“They arrived the residence of the traditional ruler in the early hours of Saturday. They were three in number. Two were wearing the uniforms of Civil Defence and one was wearing the reflective jackets used by youth vigilante.

“The fired several warning shots and abducted the monarch and escaped in a waiting speedboat anchored in the nearby waterside,” a source said.

Police Public Relations Officers, Mr Asinim Butwat, who confirmed the incident, said that the Police had launched a manhunt for the unknown gunmen in a bid to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Aatewe, Commander of The Joint Task Force in the Niger-Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo shield assured that the hoodlum would be apprehended shortly.

Atewe said that the task force had received reports of the incident and activated its security network in the creeks to fish out the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, The Bayelsa State Government and its security outfit “Operation Doo Akpo” have been honoured with Africa’s top security awards in recognition of its consistency and record of service delivery in security duties.

A representative of Security Watch Africa, Mr. Patrick Agbambu over the weekend presented the awards to the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the former Special Adviser on Security, Lt. Col. Bernard Kenebai (Rtd) and the State owned security outfit, code named “Operation Doo Akpo” during the 25th State Security Council Meeting at Government House, Yenagoa.

Governor Dickson was presented with the award of the best security/safety conscious state/provincial/regional governor in Africa, while the former Special Adviser on Security, Lt. Col. Kenebai (Rtd), received the Golden Star award for security service in Nigeria. The award for the best crime bursting/ security squad in West Africa went to Operation Door-Akpor.

•Photo, courtesy of Alagoa Morris, shows the kidnapped Chief Collins Adikoko.

Update news