OFFICERS from the Nigerian Police Force's Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad have been deployed to President Goodluck Jonathan's Ogbia Local Government Area to fish out the kidnappers of the sister of his special assistant Oronto Douglas.
On Monday night, Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the older sister of Mr Douglas, the special adviser to the president on research, documentation and strategy was kidnapped by armed gunmen. Like President Jonathan, the Douglas's are Bayelsa State and Oronto worked for the president while he was Bayelsa State governor and has since moved with him to Abuja as one of his assistants.
Hilary Opara, the Bayelsa State police commissioner, confirmed the incident in Yenagoa, state capital, saying he had visited the scene of the kidnapping in Ogbia town. According to Mr Opara, no arrests have been made yet but that the Marine Police have been deployed to the creeks to effect the victim’s rescue.
A police spokesman added: “We are after the kidnappers and very soon, they will be apprehended and the woman rescued.”
Gift Douglas, Oronto's younger brother, said: “I got the information yesterday that our elder sister has been kidnapped by gunmen, who went to her shop at 8pm and shot into the air before taking her away through the creeks.” He added that the incident had thrown the entire family into mourning.
Markson Fefegha, the Bayelsa State commissioner for information and orientation, added: “It is sad and embarrassing that it happened at a time the present administration is recording great successes in the area of sustaining existing peace. The state government is, however, optimistic that the security agencies will go after the kidnappers and swiftly rescue her.”
Romeo Douglas added: “The kidnap of our daughter has increased our pain as a family that is still in mourning. We do hope and pray that those who have kidnapped her will give her the best of treatment deserving of any human being and envision also that they will have a rethink over the matter and release her to reunite with us as a family.”
Oronto Douglas, 47, was a leading human rights attorney and author and a member of the team of lawyers who represented Ken Saro-Wiwa during his trial under the Sani Abacha regime. His family come from Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, one of the areas most badly affected by oil spills in the Niger Delta.
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