Founder and Executive Director Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC), The Netherlands, Comrade Sunny Ofehe in company of a Nigerian, Mr. Femi Soewu and three Dutch Nationals, Mr Jan Andre Groenedijk, Mrs. Marianne Vox and Mr. Erhard Leffers have decided to visit some communities in Niger Delta region to see how they can appeal to the world to ameliorate their suffering. But, unfortunately, after the visit they were kidnapped on their way back to Warri. Sunny Ofehe and Femi Soewu were later released, while the three Dutch nationals are still under incarceration. Below is the full story of how they were kidnapped as narrated by Comrade Sunny Ofehe in a press statement made available to URHOBOTODAY an online medium
Excerpt
On Sunday the 4th of May, 2014, at about 16:45, a group of heavily armed gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants attacked our speed boats carrying my delegation from the Netherlands which included Mr. Erhard Leffers, Mrs. Marianne Vos, Mr. Jan Andre Groenendijk and Mr. Femi Soewu, two journalists from the Warri chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ and some leaders of the communities.
The incident occurred while returning back to Warri after a successful tour of the newly built Chevron facilitated GMOU hospital. The visit was primarily to see how we can help solicit international support for the hospital and the impoverished people of the Dodo River Communities in Bayelsa State.
The gunmen numbering about 10 shot sporadically into the air, water and the speed boats carrying us including Mr Berry Negerese, Chairman, Dodo River Rural Development Association operators of the NNPC/Chevron sponsored GMOU, who also facilitated the visit. Our team was well received by the people of the communities led by their traditional rulers.