Delta Government Denies Paying N500m Ransom For Release Of Kidnapped Edwin Clark's Son

The Delta State Government has refuted the claims of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that it paid a ransom of N500m to abductors of Mr. Ebikeme Clarke, son of Chief Edwin Clarke.
On Monday, MEND had branded last week’s kidnap of Ebikeme as “a cleverly orchestrated fraud stage-managed by the victim” to con a N500m ransom out of the security vote of the Delta State Government.
“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, influence over kidnapers and arrest of suspects and denying the payment of a ransom which has already been shared”, the group alleged.
But responding on Tuesday, the Delta State Government denied the allegation, saying it did not pay a dime towards the release of the captive.
“The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to a release by a group called MEND, alleging that the Delta State Government parted with the sum of N500 million as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clarke, son of Chief E. K. Clarke, who was kidnapped and released a few days ago”, Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay wrote in a statement.
“In the said statement, it was also alleged that the kidnap was stage managed by Ebikeme Clarke and the Police to swindle the state government of such an amount.
“The Delta State Government wishes to State categorically that it did not part with any money as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clarke. It is the policy of the government not to pay or encourage the payment of ransom by families as this encourages more kidnappings”.
Ovuozorie recalled that this not the first high-profile abduction in the state; and even in the cases where the victims were held in captivity for much longer, the government did not pay any ransom.
“What then is so special about Mr. Ebikeme Clarke that will make the state government pay ransom?” he queried.
“Secondly the volume of money being mentioned, N500 million, makes the allegation very foolish for anyone who knows how government runs and the logistics of that volume of fund movement, considering the fact that there were only two working days during the period”.
He maintained that “the so-called MEND” is obviously out not just to blackmail the state government but also Chief E. K. Clarke and the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
“The Delta State Government wishes to advise the people of the Niger Delta especially those still hiding under the umbrella of MEND that the tactics of blackmail, falsehood, rumour mongering and intimidation in the region are gone”, he added.
“The region is in a phase of infrastructure and human capital development catch up which will ultimately ensure peace in the region. Let all hands be on deck”.