Gunmen yesterday invaded Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and kidnapped the 85-year-old paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness Chief Benjamin Weke.
Checks indicated that the kidnappers had few weeks ago sent a notice of their plans to abduct the monarch before they eventually came yesterday and whisked him away from his residence.
According to a family member, Mrs. Blessing Weke, the gunmen had on July 1 this year sent a letter to the monarch, intimating him of their coming.
Saturday Sun gathered that the Weke family was preparing for the traditional marriage ceremony of one of their sons scheduled for today when the unfortunately incident.
Mrs. Weke said: “The gunmen were about four and heavily armed. They came around 1am, and forcefully gain entrance and the wife was the first to wake up and also woke up his Highness.”
“They immediately seized him and took some money meant for the traditional marriage of one of his sons scheduled to hold today.
“They also beat up the wife who escorted them through the footpath behind his residence to the waterside where they escaped with a speedboat to an unknown location.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, DSP, who regretted the incident, said the family could not make contact with the police until 5am,
“The marine component of the police has been alerted and is combing the creeks to find their whereabouts,” he said.
The Sun
