Delta State Government on Tuesday denied payment of N500 million as ransom to secure the release of Ebikemi, the son of Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, who was kidnapped last week.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Ovuozorie Macaulay, was emphatic that no ransom was paid as claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that also said the kidnapping was stage-managed by Ebikemi to get money from the government.
The statement reads in full, “The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to a release by a group called MEND, alleging that the Delta State Government parted with the sum of N500m as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark, son of Chief E.K. Clark who was kidnapped and released a few days ago.
“In the said statement, it was also alleged that the kidnap was stage managed by Ebikeme Clark and the police to swindle the State Government of such an amount.
“The Delta State Government wishes to State categorically that it did not part with any money as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark. It is the policy of the Government not to pay or encourage the payment of ransom by families as this encourages more kidnappings.
“The state government has had previous cases of high profile kidnappings that the victims have been kept much longer than that of Ebikeme. The government did not pay any ransom. What then is so special about Mr. Ebikeme Clark that will make the State Government pay ransom?
“Secondly the volume of money being mentioned, N500m makes the allegation very foolish for anyone who knows how government runs and the logistics of that volume of fund movement, considering the fact that there were only two working days during the period.
“From the statement by the so called MEND, it is obvious that they are out not just to blackmail the State Government but also Chief E.K.Clark and the amnesty program of the Federal Government.
“The Delta State Government wishes to advise the people of the Niger Delta especially those still hiding under the umbrella of MEND, that the tactics of blackmail, falsehood, rumour mongering and intimidation in the region are gone. The region is in a phase of infrastructure and human capital development catch up which will ultimately ensure peace in the region. Let all hands be on deck”.
