Rivers CP Kimo

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

After nine days in captivity, Mrs Palsy Elekima, a female member of the Caretaker Committee of Degema Local Council and her son who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Bukuma in Degema Local Government Council, while attending the Miss Bukuma Beauty Pageant on Sunday December 27 were released today,January 4.

Godspower Ipalibo Madudoye,the Coordinator of National Youth Council, Degema Chapter,has confirmed their release and that they are receiving medical attention in an undisclosed private hospital.

The youth leader who did not disclose whether ransom was paid, however thanked Degema Youths who he said came out and mobilised against the kidnap by joining in the search of the kidnap victims and denouncing the incident.

Madudoye however said:”We thank the Rivers State Government, the Security Agencies and youths of the Degema local government who stood with the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN,throughout the period when the Caretaker Committee member Mrs Palsy Elikema,the Supervisor for Women Affairs in the Council and her two-year old son were abducted. I hereby advise Rivers youths of the state to abstain from crime.”

Madudoye had appealed to the state government and security agencies to provide security in the coastal areas because of the growing incidents of sea piracy, kidnapping and brigandage in the areas.

He lamented the attack on passenger boats by sea pirates a few days ago in Bakana also in Degema local Government area.

Investigations by our correspondent later revealed that before the invasion of Bukuma on the day of the Beauty Pageant that led to the sporadic shooting and the kidnap, there was an earlier attack on the nearby Tombia community by people suspected to be armed youths from Bukuma.

The Source said what happened on Sunday, December 27 was a reprisal attack by suspected hoodlums from Tombia community.

A youth Leader in Buguma, Donald Iyalla, confirmed that “some armed youths invaded Bukuma during the Miss Buguma Beauty Pageant and started shooting. Two persons were killed.”.