Indication emerged yesterday that the Bayelsa State Police Command paid N1 million ransom to secure the release one of the 12 policemen, Lucky Ebebi, who was reported killed by former militants at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
The former militants kidnapped Ebebi, a Corporal, and whisked him to their camp in the creeks. But investigations by National Mirror revealed that the victim was freed last Wednesday after spending barely a week in the militants’ camp.
A police source, who did not want his name mentioned, said that Ebebi was admitted at the emergency ward of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, where he was treated of bullet injuries before he was discharged yesterday.
The source said Ebebi reported at the state police headquarters yesterday for debriefing.
The source, however, added that a Greek and Indonesian, who were earlier kidnapped by the abductors, were released with Ebebi. Ebebi’s elder brother, Victor, confirmed that his sibling was alive.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alex Akhigbe, denied that the command paid N1 million to secure Ebebi’s release.
Akhigbe said: “Where will we get the money? No ransom was paid for his release.”
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