Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, would only be freed when police release the father of one of his abductors, it was learned.
The kidnappers of the commissioner disclosed this on Saturday to the paramount ruler of his community, Otuokpoti, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Otokito was abducted by some hoodlums believed to be operators of illegal crude oil refinery, also known as ‘kpofire’ on Thursday.
He was grabbed from his bedroom at gunpoint into a waiting speedboat at the waterside and sped away.
The commissioner was reportedly abducted for opposing the abductors’ plan to set up an illegal crude oil refinery in the community’s forest.
It was revealed that before the incident, the gang leader had reportedly approached Otuokpoti community and held a meeting with some elders and youths, where he sought to set up an illegal bunkering camp around the community’s bush.
The militant leader and his men allegedly reached an agreement at the meeting by providing bags of rice, lives goats and cash gifts, among other items.
The commissioner, however, learned of what happened and travelled to the village and vowed that he would not allow any illegitimate oil refinery to operate in the area.
He also confronted the gang leader and warned him to stay away from the forest, threatening to expose them if they attempted to go ahead with it.
It was based on this that the militants abducted the commissioner, sources said.
It was gathered that the kidnappers’ leader called the community chief on the phone and informed him that the commissioner was in their custody.
The camp leader did not demand any ransom but stated that they would release Otokito only on the condition that his detained father was released by the police.
