Surprise as Dickson's sister is still held 42 days after abduction...

Residents have expressed surprise that Nancy Keme Dickson, the abducted younger sister to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, has spent over 42 days with her assailants.

The 26-year-old, who is said to be the last child of the Dicksons, was abducted on December 19, last year, by gunmen.She was seized at her shop on Okaka Road in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Nancy was abducted after the December 5, 2015 governorship election and a few weeks to the January 9 supplementary poll, which Dickson won and became the re-elected governor.

Nancy was missing when her family celebrated the governor’s victory at the poll. She may also miss Dickson’s inauguration on February 14.

Many people criticised Dickson for his alleged indifference to his sister’s plight and expressed fears that her captors might subject her to various assaults.

A source close to the governor said Dickson was not disposed to paying any ransom to free his sister.

The source, who spoke in confidence, noted that Dickson had ordered his family not to pay ransom to Nancy’s abductors.

He recalled that the governor took a similar action when gunmen abducted the mother of a commissioner in his administration.

The source added:

 “The governor does not believe in paying ransom to kidnappers. When his mother was kidnapped, the abductors demanded ransom but the governor turned down their request. They kept the woman until they became tired and set her free.

The Nation