A
abujagirl
Guest
The Delta Government on Tuesday issued a statement saying that it did not pay N500 million ransom for the release of kidnapped Ebikeme Clark, son of elder statesman, Edwin Clark.
Part of the statement which was issued by Mr Ovuozorie Macaulay, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, in Asaba, said, "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 where the victims had been kept much longer than Ebikeme. The government did not pay any ransom", the statement said.
It further noted that there was nothing special about the victim to warrant its paying ransom for his release. The statement said that MEND was out to blackmail not just the state government, but also Clark and the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
"The Delta State Government wishes to advise those still hiding under the umbrella of MEND, that the tactics of blackmail, falsehood, rumour mongering and intimidation in the region are gone", it added.
Part of the statement which was issued by Mr Ovuozorie Macaulay, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, in Asaba, said, "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 where the victims had been kept much longer than Ebikeme. The government did not pay any ransom", the statement said.
It further noted that there was nothing special about the victim to warrant its paying ransom for his release. The statement said that MEND was out to blackmail not just the state government, but also Clark and the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
"The Delta State Government wishes to advise those still hiding under the umbrella of MEND, that the tactics of blackmail, falsehood, rumour mongering and intimidation in the region are gone", it added.