Tension Brews In Delta Over Abduction Of Otonyasere Community Youth Chairman By Unknown Gunmen

By Endurance Ikanone 

Palpable tension is currently brewing in Otonyasere Community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, following the abduction of the community youth chairman, Mr Obakpor Tekpesan by unknown gunmen.

The abduction of Obakpor, a 43-year-old man who was seized along Otonyasere – Abigborodo Road in Sapele, on Sunday night at about 9pm has thrown the community that had been having a running battle with Abigborodo people over a disputed land into confusion.

Multiple sources told newsmen that Obakpor was allegedly shot in the leg by his abductors before he was thrown into their vehicle and zoomed off.

The incident had caused serious tension within the community as there were conflicting accounts whether he was set up for arrest or taken into custody by ransom demanding kidnappers.

When contacted for comments, the Delta State Police Spokesman, Edafe Bright, said “I am not aware if there is any case of abduction or not.”

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President of Otonyasere Community, Deacon Arieja Austin, however, confirmed the abduction of the victim in a telephone chat and said, “Yes it is true, he was taken away yesterday from the community, but we don’t know if to call it abduction, kidnapping or arrest.”

“As we speak to you, we are still reaching out to security agencies and none of them has admitted to arresting him and we will continue to do so until we find him,” he added.

When asked if he suspected anyone behind Obakpor’s abduction, he said “I am not pointing accusing fingers at anybody. We are not pointing accusing fingers at anybody at this time. If you say that some persons are pointing accusing fingers, I am not aware of that.”

Recall that leaders and youths of Otonyasere and Abigborodo communities in Sapele and Warri North local government areas of the state have been at dagger drawn with community leaders, including former local government chairman and serving councillor, exchanging blows in an orgy of violence that rocked both communities last week over land issue.