Mrs Edith Thomas, wife of Charles Kurubo, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, has raised alarm over the alleged forceful abduction of her husband by armed men last week.
Kurubo, a former aide to Governor Douye Diri and Chairman of the Niger Delta Ex-agitators’ Leadership Forum (Second Phase), Bayelsa State chapter, is a vocal critic of the management of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the pipeline surveillance contracts handled by Tantita Security Company, owned by ex-militant leader High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
Mrs Thomas recounted the terrifying experience, stating that her husband was forcefully taken from their residence along Opolo Road, near Saipem, by armed individuals dressed in police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uniforms. The abduction occurred around midnight on November 19, 2024.
“At about 12 am, our sleep was shattered with sounds of gunshots and shouts for my husband to come out. We were gripped with fear, and to save our lives, he surrendered,” she narrated tearfully.
“Looking from our shattered window, we saw that those that came were dressed in police uniforms and vests. Some were putting on civil defence uniforms. The vehicles were many—close to fifteen. It looked like a total invasion,” she said.
Lack of Official Response
After the abduction, the family rushed to the Bayelsa State Police Command headquarters to seek clarity on the situation but were met with denials.
“When we got to the police command, we were told he was not in their custody and that they were not involved in the operation,” Mrs Thomas said.
Subsequent visits to both the police and the Department of State Services yielded no results, as both agencies denied knowledge of Kurubo’s arrest.
Expressing deep concern, Mrs Thomas said, “I fear for my husband’s safety. No one seems to know where he is or who took him.”
A Plea for Help
In her emotional plea, Mrs Thomas called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to intervene urgently in finding and rescuing her husband.
“The Police and Governor Diri are the only hope I have to find my husband. Please help us before something bad is done to him,” she implored.
The abduction of Kurubo, a known critic of powerful interests in the Niger Delta, has raised questions about his safety and the possible motivations behind the act. As the family continues to search for answers, their ordeal highlights the ongoing issues of insecurity and lack of accountability in the region.
