Suspected Fulani herdsmen kidnap Ijaw activist, Alaowei

SUSPECTED Fulani herdsmen have abducted the National Coordinator of the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, a nongovernmental organization based in Delta State, Cleric Alaowei Esq, between Okene and Lokoja on Benin City-Abuja Road.

His kidnappers established contact with his wife three days after his abduction asking for N20 million ransom, which they later reduced to N10 million.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the gun totting herdsmen laid ambush at a dangerous spot on the road, where they attacked Alaowei and other leaders from Ayakoromo community in Delta state

Two other persons, Hon. Paul Kurubge and Hon. Richard Teudon, sustained injuries and were currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Abuja following a multiple accident that occurred because of the siege.
Ijaw activists led by the national president of Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, Austin Ozobo, have called for his immediate release, pleading with the abductors not to harm him.

A source told Saturday Vanguard that Alaowei was traveling to Abuja with other leaders of Ayakoromo community in Delta state, Wednesday, July 27, when the herdsmen ambushed them, but while others managed to escape, he was unlucky and they seized him.
“Since July 27, nobody heard from him until Friday when his kidnappers called his wife asking initially for N20 million ransom and reduced to N10 million. His wife told them that the family had no such money. They are yet to call back,” the source said.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, chair of Ayakoromo Interface Advocacy Committee, Musa Biayebo, expressed displeasure at the ugly incident and urged his abductors to release him.
He also disclosed that the committee and the Pere of Ngbilebiri kingdom had written a letter to the IGP “for home settlement through the office of the DCP Monitoring Unit, Abuja,” adding: “There is need for a serious commitment to settle this matter engulfing Ayakoromo community as it is leading to sad end.”