Samuel Oki, a 35-year-old nephew of former President
Goodluck Jonathan, was on Friday found dead in a creek of
Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa
State.
The deceased Oki was reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday
alongside the 72-year-old foster father of Jonathan,
Inengite Nitabai.
It was learnt that some fishermen discovered Oki’s body
floating on Otuoke River, two days after the abduction.
Some indigenes of the community said though many were not
aware of Oki’s whereabouts during the Wednesday’s
abduction of Nitabai, the discovery of his body (Oki) in the
creek had however heightened their fears of Nitabai’s safety.
Some community members claimed that the sound of gunshot
heard during the abduction of the septuagenarian might have
been targeted at the deceased.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said the discovery of Oki’s body had also thrown the residents
into fear.
The source said, “We are worried about the safety of our
uncle, Chief Inengite Nitabai. The men who abducted them
have killed Oki and we pray they don’t touch our uncle.”
The deceased, according to community sources, was always
seen in company with the Jonathan’s foster father.
The villagers, who were seen discussing the incident, alleged
that Oki tried to resist the kidnappers.
Some claimed that they heard gunshots on Wednesday, as
the kidnappers were believed to be fleeing through the
waterways.
According to them, divers and local fishermen recovered the
body and anchored it by the riverside to prevent the body
from being carried away by water currents.
The body of Oki, it was learnt, had been deposited at a
morgue.
It was further learnt that the kidnappers had yet to establish
contact with the family of their hostage since Wednesday’s
abduction.
This is the second time Inengite Nitabai was kidnapped.
On February 28, 2014, he was kidnapped and later freed by
security forces on March 10, 2014.
It will also be recalled that Nancy Dickson, 26, the younger
sister of Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, was
abducted in December 2015 and has been held captive for
more than 50 days.
Dickson had, in his first term in office, signed the anti-
kidnapping law that prescribes a death sentence for
kidnapping. In spite of this, there have been no conviction and
kidnappings have continued to thrive in the state.
SOURCE: PUNCHNG
