Lorine Emenike
The National President of Andoni Youths Coalition, Hon. Isong Amon Nkpon has pleaded with governor Ezenwo Nyesom Woke to temper justice with mercy over the recent kidnapping of three Lebanese expatriates on the Andoni section of the Ogoni/ Andoni/ Opobo unity road.
Governor Wike, on Sunday, issued a 72-hours ultimatum to the chiefs in the area to effect the release of the construction workers or be dethroned.
Hon. Nkpon who said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt also condemned the kidnapping of the expatriates.
The youth leader described the act as barbaric, he called on Governor Wike not to dethrone recognized traditional rulers or stop the construction of the road as the Andoni people cannot pay for the sins of few unknown criminals.
Continuing, the leader said, neither the traditional rulers nor the generality of the Andoni people is an accomplice in the crime, stressing that Andoni traditional rulers cannot be held liable for what they do not know.
He said the Andoni Youths Coalition will work with security agencies to check all forms of kidnapping and criminality in the area.
He also stressed the need for security agencies to improve their level of intelligence in the area with a view to nipping in the bud, all forms of criminal activities in Andoni and other parts of the state.
The youth leader also advised youths against their involvement in criminal activities in the area to desist forthwith in the interest of peace and development of Andoni.
It will be recalled that three expatriates working on the Ogoni Andoni/ Opobo unity road were abducted by unknown gunmen on the unity road last week.
