Gunmen Seize Bayelsa Commissioner's Mother

James Dugo

Yet-to-be identified gunmen have kidnapped the mother of the Bayelsa Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, Deacon James Dugo.
SaharaReporters gathered that Madam Comfort Dugo was forcefully abducted on Tuesday night in Odi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, by a three-man armed gang at her family residence.

The development has created serious doubt and apprehension over the claims by the state government to have solved the problem of violent crime in the area.

The latest kidnap brings to two the number of incidents recorded since Gov. Seriake Dickson signed a new law last month which provides the death penalty for kidnappers.

As of Wednesday night, no group had claimed responsibility for the kidnap of the 68-year old woman, whose son was appointed a commissioner by Dickson upon his inauguration in February 2012.

Confirming the kidnaping of his mother to newsmen in Yenagoa today, Dugo said the perpetrators are yet to contact the family.

A family source said that the family is worried about the whereabouts of Madam Dugo, expressing deep concern about her health.
"Though the familyhave since reported the incident to the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, we are very much worried about mama's safety, because no one really knows where they have taken her to," the source said.

Tension is rising in the restive community following the kidnap of Madam Dugo, as some youths, who expressed disappointment over the latest act of kidnapping in the community, have sworn to hunt down the kidnappers by themselves.