The Bayelsa State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the release of Peter Igbifa, President of the Ijaw Youths Council, who went missing on Tuesday while travelling to Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Igbifa was on his way to Abuja on May 25 for a scheduled meeting with the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Office, retired Colonel Milland Dikio, when the incident happened.
There was, however, uncertainty over the whereabouts of Igbifa as there were conflicting reports which claimed that he was abducted whereas others said he was missing.
The Spokesman for the Police in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, however, in a statement on Thursday in Yenegoa confirmed that he was abducted by suspected kidnappers.
Butswat also claimed that Igbifa’s freedom was as a result of pressure from the Police, even when there was no arrest.
He said: “The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Peter Igbifa, was released by his abductors on May 26 at Kaima, Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Area Bayelsa.
“It will be recalled that the IYC President was kidnapped on May 25 on his way to the Port Harcourt Airport by suspected kidnappers.
“Due to sustained pressure mounted by the Police, the IYC President was released at a bush at Kaima, from where he contacted the Police and was eventually rescued.
“The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, Mike Okoli, has debriefed the kidnapped victim and investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest the perpetrators.”
The abduction happened just before the expiration of the 30 days ultimatum the IYC gave the Federal Government to constitute the Niger Delta Development Commission Board or have the region shut down by Ijaw youths.
Igbifa issued the notice on April 26 and followed it up with a warning on May 17, asking all multinational oil companies operating in the region to vacate and peacefully shut down their oil platforms before the expiration of the notice at midnight of May 26.
