Armed men in the early hours of Friday abducted, Benjamin Weke, the 85 year-old paramount ruler of Gbarantoru in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, at his residence.

The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswatt, confirmed the incident, saying that the monarch’s family could not make contact with the police until about 5am.

“The marine component of the police has been alerted. They are combing the creeks to find their whereabouts‎.” Butswat said.

It would be recalled that only two weeks ago, two Chiefs from Okpoama community in Brass local Government area, Blessing Wagio and Isaac Akono-Igolo, were kidnapped and N50 million demanded by their kidnappers for their release.

Family sources said the abduction of the Bayelsa monarch was preceded by a notice of his planned kidnapping in a letter reportedly sent to him by his abductors.

Blessing Weke, a member of the family confirmed that the gunmen had on July 1, 2015 sent a letter to the monarch, intimating him of their intention to kidnap him.

“The gunmen were about four in number and heavily armed. They came around 1.00 am and forcefully gained entrance.

“They immediately seized him and took some money meant for the traditional marriage of his sons scheduled to hold on Saturday.

“They also beat up the wife who later escorted them through the footpath behind his residence to the waterside where they escaped in a speedboat to an unknown location,” Weke said.