Tension in Delta as militants abduct Itsekiri leaders, company officials

There is palpable tension in Benin River, Warri North Local Government  Area of Delta State following the abduction of no fewer than four Itsekiri Community leaders and about four officials of Elcrest, an NPDC contracting firm purportedly owned by prominent Anambra born billionaire, Chief Emeka Offor.

The Itsekiri community leaders, which include Chairman of Ureju Community Trust, Mr. Eniyan Henry Tonwe and Kele Meme alongside the unidentified officials of Elcrest were reportedly seen at Ureju Community at about 5pm Tuesday May 16. They were on their way back to Warri from Ureju when suspected Ijaw militants allegedly abducted them after firing several shots into the air.

Mr. Eniyan Tonwe alongside others had gone to show the company officials the terrain for a proposed free Medicare Programme.

Reports say the suspected Ijaw militants believed to be responsible for the death of four marine Policemen at the Benin River last week, claimed Elcrest and NPDC have not been carrying them along in their operations and they are reportedly demanding ransom of about 36 million naira from Elcrest as well as inclusion into the company’s payroll before the abductees will be released.

An impeccable source hinted your Soar-Away-International Tabloid that the militants had demanded the removal of an army gun boat in the Benin River axis as one of the conditions for the release of the abductees, a condition that has been met, but as at 6:30pm Thursday May 18 when this report was filed, the whereabouts of the Itsekiri Community leaders and the company officials were unknown.

Meanwhile, tension is mounting in Itsekiri Benin River communities as indications are rife that there is no movement in the Benin River waterways.

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