Gunmen kidnap parents of Maxwell Oko, ex-Commissioner for Energy, in Bayelsa State

Mr MAXWELL OKO, former Commissioner for Energy, Bayelsa State

On 2 June, gunmen kidnapped Pa Erasmus Oko, aged 79, along with his wife, Mrs. Idemokumo Oko in her mid-50s, both parents of Mr. Maxwell Oko, the immediate past Commissioner for Energy in Bayelsa State.

The incident occurred in Otuasega, a rural community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, barely four hours after the dissolution of the state executive council, which also relieved Mr Maxwell Oko of the energy portfolio. 

The elderly couple was reportedly abducted by a gang of four gunmen. News agency sources said the four men had driven into the community in an unregistered, red-coloured Audi 80 salon car late in the evening, and drove around for a while, apparently firming their plans. At about 9pm, they first grabbed the commissioner’s aunt but let her off on realising she was not one of their targets. They then stormed Pa Oko’s house and seized the old man and his wife, just as she was serving him his dinner.

News agency reports further said the gunmen dragged their two captives to their waiting car and sped off to neighbouring Okarki in Rivers State, where two other members of the gang had already stationed a speedboat and were standing-by at the waterfront. The gang then transferred their captives to the waiting boat and went off to an unknown destination.

The motive for the kidnap is not yet known as the gunmen have not yet contacted the Oko family. Pa Oko, a trader, is said to be suffering from arthritis due to old age.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State, Mr. Eguavoen Emokpae, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident to newsmen. He said the police was working hard to track down the kidnappers and free the captives.