Six unidentified gunmen stormed Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni’s provisions store at about 8.30am on Tuesday seizing the women, according to reports. The assailants then forced their victims into a speedboat taking them to an unknown location.
Two cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan were reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday by armed men dressed in military camouflage in the Akimpelai Community of the Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Six unidentified gunmen stormed Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni’s provisions store at about 8.30am on Tuesday seizing the women, according to reports. The assailants then forced their victims into a speedboat taking them to an unknown location.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, provided a statement at the scene of the crime saying, "the gunmen were dressed in military camouflage. They went to provision stores of the victims at the riverside and abducted them into a waiting speedboat"
Both the marine and anti-kidnapping squads of the police, including the Joint Task Force (JTF), authorized a joint rescue mission called Operation Pulo Shield.
According to an eyewitness identified as Kingsley, "The victims are two maternal cousins of the President [Jonathan]. We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President after the May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of welcoming their brother will be a mirage."
Disturbed by the incident, the Ogbia Clan of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, asked the kidnappers to release the women with immediately.
The Chairman of the clan, Osaanya Osaanya, said no ransom should be paid for the freedom of the victims,"We are calling on the kidnappers to as a matter of urgency return those innocent women. We will go after them if they refuse to heed our call. We will assist security agencies to make sure that those poor women are released with immediate effect.”