Bayelsa Governor pledges to help free kidnapped Dutch nationals

“The Bayelsa Governor assured his guest who visited him at the Bayelsa House in Abuja that the government would do everything possible to find the victims.”
The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has assured the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, John Groffen, that the state government will do all it can to free the three kidnapped Dutch nationals.
Erhard Leffers, owner of Dutch printing company, Gerrits & Leffers; Marianne Vos, a writer with the same company; and Jandries Groenendijk, a documentary maker, were kidnapped on Sunday during a visit to Letugbene community as part of their campaign for better lives for Niger Delta residents.
Two Netherlands based Nigerians who were also initially kidnapped where freed hours later and are helping the police with their investigations.
According to a press statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Bayelsa Governor assured his guest who visited him at the Bayelsa House in Abuja that the government would do everything possible to find the victims.
He expressed regret over the incident, adding that the Government in collaboration with the security agencies is working round the clock to ensure the safe release of the victims.
In the statement, Mr. Dickson also stated that “the three Dutch Nationals were escorted into the Niger Delta, through Warri in Delta State, by a Non Government Agency (NGO), without any prior notice to the Governments and security agencies of both Bayelsa and Delta States, not until they were abducted by the gunmen.”
“While, the Government of Bayelsa State appreciates and welcome visitors, especially foreigners, it is important that, the Government and security agencies are put on notice of such visits. But, sadly, this was not done in this case.
“It is, however, gratifying to state that, the Bayelsa State Government and security agencies are on a serious manhunt for the Dutch Nationals and their captors,” he said.