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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Police Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Alonyenu Francis Idu has raised concern over recent court rulings in the state granting freedom to alleged notorious kidnappers arrested and arranged in the state.
According to Police Commissioner Alonyenu Francis Idu, the decision of the trial courts to free the kidnappers despite evidence, confessional statements and death setences of co-kidnappers by another court is worrisome and a waste of the efforts of the men of the Police Force.
The Police Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Alonyenu Francis Idu, who made his concern known to journalists after the Security meeting at the Government House, challenged newsmen to investigate the circumstances surrounding the release of some arrested notorious kidnappers in the state.
According to CP Alonyenu Francis Idu, “Police also have rights and all of you (journalists) are not looking at it. We also have right. Policemen arrested kidnappers and they were detained. They confessed to the crime and were arraigned for trial. But now, we are back to square one and everyone don’t want to talk about anything now.”
“These are incidences that threaten our social harmony within this domain (Bayelsa). These people (those allegedly paying to free the kidnappers) envy your state. They envy the peace in your capital, Yenagoa and they want to degrade it and destroy it. So, arise bayelsa and defend your states from intruders.”
Investigations into the allegations raised by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Alonyenu Francis Idu, revealed that there is a raging controversy surrounding the State Judiciary following alleged cases of gratification for the release of suspected kidnappers by some courts in the state.
According to security sources, an alleged kidnapper, identified as Endurance Enaware, an indigene of Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the state was released by the Ogbia Court as “discharged and acquitted”.
The release of Enaware, who was arrested by the men of the Operation Puff Adder, led by Supol. Chris Nwaogbo, for his alleged involvement in kidnapping of the wife of popular Igbo businessman, Obaino and a medical doctor, Alex Ogirigade, has provoked worry among officers and men of the state Police Command.
According to Police sources, a former judge of Ogbia High Court, who initially handled the case was approached with huge sums of money as gratification but he declined. Due to pressure, he returned the case file and it was re-assigned to another judge in the same Ogbia High Court and the kidnapper was discharged and acquitted.
The alleged kidnapper was reportedly set free despite confessional statements and exhibits tendered by the Police in court and the fact that his accomplices had already being convicted in court.
It was also revealed that those agitating for the release of the suspected kidnapper had also approached the commander of the Operation Puff Adder, Supol Chris Nwaogbo with the sum of N20 million. But he rejected it.
Another case of alleged miscarriage of justice, was the alleged indiscriminate release of one Jackson Dakolo and Nelson Waripamo also known as Mandela front custody by the court.
These suspected kidnappers were discharged and acquitted by a state High Court, Sagbama. They were both accused of series of heinous crimes including the alleged killing of a Police Corporal at Udeme Hotel in March, 2019 and stole his rifle.
Both suspects were also accused of allegedly shooting an Anglican Priest at Egbedi Community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and abducting a retired oil worker, identified as Duncan. They allegedly collected N20 million as ransom, and were also accused of allegedly shooting and killing one Barr. Abel Oil on 16th January, 2019,”.
But both accused were discharged and acquitted “Even when the suspects confessed and the victims identified them,” the source said.
Sources also revealed that Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu was miffed by the court rulings due to the waste of time and manpower of the Operation Puff Adder in the investigation and prosecution of the accused kidnappers.
Meanwhile, a group known as Bayelsa Youths For Transparency and Good Governance (BYTGG) has called on the state governor, Senator Douye Diri and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to launch investigation into the activities of some of the judges in the state based on the outburst of the State Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu.
According to the BYTGG, the administration of Gov. Douye Diri has invested so much in stamping out kidnapping and other crimes in the state, with the arrests of notorious kidnappers in the last four years and should not allow few judges and politicians in the state to compromise the security of the state.
“In the last few months, the state government under Gov. Douye Diri and the State Police Command under CP. Alonyenu Francis Idu have restored confidence in the security architecture of the state through security intelligence, man power motivation and logistics.” the group observed.
The BYTGG, a group known to have been working with security agencies in the state to tackle crime and criminality, also raised alarm over alleged plans by a court to grant bail to another set of accused kidnappers who were allegely involved in the abduction of state governor’s cousin, Ebi Ayah also known as Americana.
A member of the Police Community Relation Team, who pleaded anonymity, said the recent actions of those involved in soliciting the indiscriminate release of the suspected kidnappers, “may have a sinister motive which may throw the state into confusion.”
He called on Governor Douye Diri and his security team to take a closer look at these developments and sanction those involved, wondering: “are they not even thinking about the lives of the arresting officers? Or the residents of the state? We have enjoyed needed security under the Prosperity Administration and when the police noticed an infraction, they will be demoralised.
“Let me also call on the state chief judge, the National Judicial Council and the NBA to take a closer look at these allegations.”
