Donu Kogbara: When Silence Is Not Golden

imageTwo weeks days after she was abducted in a gangster-style, Donu Kogbara appears a fast receding memory save for occasional press statements from colleagues.
Kogbara, an international journalist and female columnist with the Vanguard newspapers, was abducted at her Nkpogu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State residence on August 30 by yet unknown gunmen.

To date, the kidnappers are yet to contact her distraught family, just as the Rivers State Police Command has appealed for patience with an assurance that they are on top of the situation.
The nation appears unmoved by the incident and has joined her to the list of national mishaps.
Kogbara runs a column ‘Sweet and Sour’ in the newspaper.
When the Daily Times visited her home in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, it met a people who lived for hope however forlorn it might be.
While her family members, colleagues and well-wishers are anxious to see her release, the state Police command, has expressed resolve not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring just that.

In a chat with Daily Times, the spokesman of the Rivers State Police command, DSP Ahmad Mohammad, said that the force is doing everything possible to ensure that she is safe and that the abductors are arrested and brought to book.
Mohammad said: “I want to assure you and Donu’s family that we are doing all that is possible to rescue her to reunite with her family. We are more worried than you on this issue. We feel the abduction of your colleague the way you feel it. Her abduction is a challenge to all of us.”
However, he emphasized that the police, “will not disclose details of our operations to the public for our safety and the safety of the victim”, adding that the force is also providing adequate security to the family members of the kidnapped journalist.
In the meantime, there has been public outcry over the incident with various individuals and groups coming out to condemn the abduction, demanding her immediate and unconditional release.
Though elders of the family declined speaking with the our correspondent on the issue until her release is secured, a distant relation who granted our correspondent a brief response, said: “since the Rivers State government, which was one of the first to describe the abduction as an act of the devil, claims to be working tirelessly, we are waiting to see their success..”
He stated that the immediate families have been praying to God for her safety where ever she is being kept.
While uniformed men were seen around her Port Harcourt residence, most of the family members were sitting closely and discussing with each other. Every unfamiliar face around her residence was met with stare and questions.
According to a source at the compound, the action of the dare devils was unfortunate because she was a friend to all. A neighbour told the Daily Times: “The government and security agencies should please work together to ensure that every resident enjoys adequate security, because if a journalist could be kept for this long without any ransom or unconditional release then I wonder the fate of an ordinary man on the street”
He continued: “The kidnap is roundly condemned and we believe that by God’s grace, she will come out alive. By God’s grace, she will be released in good health.”
Our correspondent gathers that sources from the family are of the belief that abduction is politically motivated as the abductors are yet to demand ransom.
conduct of the forthcoming elections in the state even as it accused the opposition of being behind the abduction.
In a statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, James Ere, the group said Wilson’s kidnap was politically motivated and asked the security organs to step in and arrest the situation immediately.
Warning that the consequence of inaction was dangerous, Ere said the state could become a theatre of war, insisting that the leaders of the opposition in the state were known for violence and they should be
properly monitored to avert breakdown of law and order.
The statement said, “As a group, we condemn the resort to violence and sponsored kidnapping by the opposition. As many are aware, some of the so-called opposition leaders, who are today parading themselves as aspirants have a record of political violence and a penchant for blood-letting.
Ere said the recourse to violence was the only means the opposition could be relevant in the state and as such bent on doing harm to peace and stability as a way of intimidation.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the abduction.
Butswat, said “On September 9, 2015, at about 0400hrs, five unknown gunmen went to the residence of Mr. Fyneman Wilson at Sagbama Town, in Sagbama LGA, and abducted him with his Personal Assistant, Mr Fred, to an unknown destination.
“The Marine Police, Joint Military Task Force and the anti-kidnapping unit of the police have been alerted.”

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