Kidnappers of Dutch Nationals in Niger Delta Demand N500m Ransom

The kidnappers of three Dutch nationals along the waterways of the Niger Delta have demanded N500 million as ransom for the release of the three non-governmental organisation officials who were kidnapped last Sunday.

The kidnappers also insisted that the ransom must be paid, preferably in euros or dollars.
This is coming as the Bayelsa State Police Command and the state government began a manhunt and rescue operation to secure the release of the victims.

The three Dutch nationals were abducted along the creeks of the delta in Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

The state police boss, Mr. Hilary Opara, disclosed that a special security team of Ijaw youths, policemen and other security operatives have been deployed to fish out the kidnappers.

Opara, while stating that intelligence reports showed that the victims might still be within the area where they were abducted, warned foreign nationals against movement in the creeks without the necessary security protection.

He said neither the police nor any other security agency in Delta State, from where the men travelled, and Bayelsa where the kidnapping took place, were aware of the foreign nationals’ movement in the creeks.
The abducted Dutch nationals have been identified as Mr. Erhard Leffers, Mrs. Marianne Vos and Mr. Jan Andre Groenendijk.

Opara also denied the reported arrest of two Nigerian-born Dutch nationals, Mr. Femi Soewu and Mr. Sunny Ofehe, saying that they were invited by the police for questioning to get more information about the mood and utterances of the kidnappers and first hand information about what took place.

He explained that four persons were invited by the police for interrogation, including the organiser of the ill-fated trip and founder of an indigenous organisation known as Dodo Rivers Regional Development Association, Hon. Berry Legrese, and a Letugbene community leader, Chief Benson Dodoru.

Opara said of the four persons invited, the duo of Soewu and Ofehe, were released alongside Berry Legrese.

“But 42-year-old Chief Benson Dodoru is yet to be released due to the role he played,” he said.

Reacting to the abduction, the Bayelsa State Government condemned the kidnapping of the men. The governor’s Special Adviser in charge of security, Lt. Col. Bernard Kenebai (rtd), described the incident as unfortunate, but said he was unaware of the N500 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

He insisted that the state government would not negotiate with them, but would ensure the safe release of the foreigners.