Anxiety mounts over the killing of four and the abduction of nine other fishermen from the Ibbi local government of Taraba State at Osama village in the Ogbolu local government area of Anambra State by persons suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The nine kidnapped persons were said to have been held hostage by the same group after killing the four victims while traveling from Ibbi town in Taraba State to River Niger for their annual fishing activities.
Relatives of the victims who spoke to them said the fishermen left Ibbi on Monday in a 24-seater bus with their family members but were intercepted by IPOB members in Anambra State during the sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed group.
“Four of the fishermen were killed at the spot; nine of them were taken hostage last Monday, and we received calls from some people claiming to be IPOB members demanding ransom for the release of the nine fishermen,” Sule Hussein, a relative of one of the nine hostages, told our correspondent on the phone.
“We demanded to speak with any of the nine fishermen to ensure that they were alive but the callers refused.
“We have not communicated with any of them five days after they were taken into the forest in a remote part of Anambra State. Some people are calling us to pay ransom but we declined because they refused to connect us with any of those being held to speak with him.
“Our main concern is whether they are alive or dead. That is the answer we are waiting for as we appeal to the Taraba State Government to do something about the incident, all of those being held have wives and children,” Hussein stated.
Meanwhile, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas said the state government was aware of the incident and has taken action to see that the nine remaining fishermen are rescued alive.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Digital Communications, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, disclosed this while commenting on the development.
“The Governor and Government of Taraba State are aware of the situation. The governor is committed to seeing that the people are rescued alive,” Bello said.
