The Delta state government has denied in strong terms the billowing allegation issued by a militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), that Ebikeme, son of Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark had colluded with the Delta State Police Command and the Delta State Government to orchestrate his kidnap to swindle the state of N500 million.

The recent allegation by MEND, through its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, has unsettled the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration which boasts of finishing strong through its 3-point cardinal policies of Human Capital Development, Infrastructure Development and Peace and Security as well as its drive towards diversifying from oil as mainstay of the economy via the “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative.

Also recall that Ebikeme Clark, shortly after regaining his freedom from the kidnappers’ den had insisted that “No ransom was paid for my release”.

A government statement signed by Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG) and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Tuesday, April 08, 2014 therefore reads:

“The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to a release by a group called MEND, alleging that the Delta State Government parted with the sum of N500m as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark, son of Chief E.K.Clark who was kidnapped and released a few days ago.

“In the said statement, it was also alleged that the kidnap was stage managed by Ebikeme Clark and the police to swindle the State Government of such an amount.

“The Delta State Government wishes to State categorically that it did not part with any money as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark. It is the policy of the Government not to pay or encourage the payment of ransom by families as this encourages more kidnappings.

“The state government has had previous cases of high profile kidnappings that the victims have been kept much longer than that of Ebikeme. The government did not pay any ransom. What then is so special about Mr. Ebikeme Clark that will make the State Government pay ransom?.

“Secondly the volume of money being mentioned, N500m makes the allegation very foolish for anyone who knows how government runs and the logistics of that volume of fund movement, considering the fact that there were only two working days during the period.

“From the statement by the so called MEND, it is obvious that they are out not just to blackmail the State Government but also Chief E.K.Clark and the amnesty program of the Federal Government.

“The Delta State Government wishes to advise the people of the Niger Delta especially those still hiding under the umbrella of MEND, that the tactics of blackmail, falsehood, rumour mongering and intimidation in the region are gone. The region is in a phase of infrastructure and human capital development catch up which will ultimately ensure peace in the region. Let all hands be on deck.”