Three Dutch nationals, abducted by suspected Niger Delta militants in Letugbene, near the border between Delta and Bayelsa states on May 4, 2014, have regained freedom.
The foreigners, identified as Mr Yandries Groenendijk, Mr Erhard Leffers and Mrs Marianne Hendricks-Vox, and two more Dutch citizens of Nigerian origin, Sunny Ofehe and Femi Soewu, were captured on their way back to Warri in Delta State.
Sunny and Femi regained freedom soon under controversial circumstances. But three other hostages remained in kidnappers’ den, while a whopping sum of N500million has been allegedly demanded.
However, the Dutch nationals regained freedom over the weekend as the result of the joint operation, codenamed, ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, by the Police Command of Bayelsa State and the Joint Military Task Force. The authorities declared that no ransom money has been paid.
According to police report, the three hostages were abandoned by their kidnappers after security pressure was mounted along the creeks and waterways of the state.
The foreigners were handed over to the Dutch Ambassador in Nigeria.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed the development, added that Dutch ambassador to Nigeria was heading to the Delta region, where the abduction had taken place.
Ijaw’s Version of the Release
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) confirmed on May 11, 2014, Sunday that the three Dutch were released by their captors in the late hours of Saturday.
The IYC informed that beside active participation of the security agencies and the officials of the Bayelsa Government, the story came to a happy end owing to the efforts by the Ijaw Youth Leader and Businessman, Mr Negerese Berry.
He allegedly led the mission to rescue the hostages after a two-day ultimatum has been issued by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Comrade Udengs Eradiri.
Source: Leadership
It is dangerous for a country to have competing official responses to a single event coming from government and ethnic organizations, prelude to anarchy