The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has accused Ebikeme Clark, the son of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark of masterminding his own abduction with a motive to extort money from Delta State Government.
MEND, in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt and signed by its spokesman Bomo Jomo, claimed that the abduction of Mr Ebikeme Clark, was actually a cleverly orchestrated fraud masterminded by Ebikeme himself.
Jomo alleged that a ransom of 500Million Naira was paid by the Delta State Government from its security vote and was shared amongst all those involved in this scam before Ebikeme regained his freedom.
According to him “Mr Ebikeme is following the footsteps of his father where the Senior Clark is amongst those that hatched the fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty Programme which has only made billionaires of a few thugs and him, at the detriment of millions of impoverished indigenes and the peace and security in the region.
It is rather unfortunate that in a desperate bid for relevance and extra funds to maintain a private jet, certain unscrupulous persons, including the Delta State Police will conspire to deceive Nigerians with a phantom abduction, release of the so-called hostage.”
The nation woke to the news of Ebikeme’s abduction last week by unknown gun men who reportedly demanded a ransom of N60m for his release.