From Jessica Tamaraduoye, Warri

Ebikeme Clark, son of Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Edwin Clark, who was kidnapped on April 2 in Kiagbodo, Burutu local government area of Delta State, has regained his freedom.

The Delta State police spokesman, Celestina Kalu, a deputy superintendent of Police, confirmed this on Sunday in a telephone interview.

Kalu said that the victim was released by the Kiagbodo waterside without ransom.

“Clark was released at the early hour of today by his captors and no ransom was paid,” she said.

According to her, the kidnappers freed the victim when they noticed that the police was closing-in on them, having gotten useful information from a member of the gang who was arrested last week.

“You know that we arrested one of them last week and his members became afraid that he was leaking information to us as we were closing-in on their hide-out. So, they have to release the victim,” she said.

Another source however, said it was passionate pleas from a former federal minister of information and the leadership of Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, with the help of ex-militant warlord, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) who was said to have sent emissaries to the hoodlums after identifying their hide-out in the creeks, that led to the release of Ebikeme.

The victim, who narrated his ordeal in the kidnappers’ den, said that it was an unpleasant experience.

“I cannot explain how it happened, but it was unpleasant. I was released by the grace of God; I was taken to an unknown destination in the creek,” he said.

He added that he was released by his captors at midnight on Saturday.

Clark was whisked away last Wednesday when he was paying the salaries of the employees of Edwin Clark Foundation at about 6:00pm in Kiagbodo.

Subsequently, the abductors demanded the sum of N60 million from the family to free the victim.