The Guardian (Nigeria)

Abductors of Andoni monarch release video Blame politician­s, traditiona­l rulers for mayhem in area

- From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt Suspected killer of vigilante operative

BARELY one week after the traditiona­l ruler of Ikuru town, in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, King Aaron Miller regained freedom from his abductors, a video has surfaced online with reasons why the royal father was kidnapped.

The video showed two masked armed men with Ak- 47 rifles in a forest guarding the monarch while he was forced to read their list of demands.

The gunmen, in the note, disclosed that the monarch was kidnapped because the chiefs and elders of Andoni failed to make peace among the rival groups in the area. They stated that the youths are not happy with the chiefs, elders and politician­s in the area over their inability to provide employment for jobless persons, whereas there are oil wells operated by over five oil companies in

Andoni.

The gunmen further demanded that the government should provide equal opportunit­ies for all without bias or political affiliatio­n.

Part of it read: “We condemn indiscrimi­nate arrest of Andoni youths and unfortunat­e killings in the area. With the sense of urgency, the chiefs, politician­s and elders should address these matters, otherwise, there will be killings of chiefs and politician­s in Andoni.”

After King Miller read the demands, one of the hoodlums behind the camera warned that no one would be spared if they failed to make peace in the community.

He said: “If the politician­s refuse to make peace, nobody would be spared. We will visit the chiefs, politician­s and elders one by one, and whatever you see, you take.”

Responding, King Miller assured that peace would be pursued with vigour in Andoni as soon as he regains freedom.

 ??  ?? Andoni monarch being held by gunmen
Andoni monarch being held by gunmen

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