• Ibruvwe and his gang during their show of shame in Kokori
The arrogance and bravado that characterised the reign of Kelvin Ibruvwe, the leader of a notorious gang of kidnappers that had held the entire Niger Delta region hostage for months, has turned out an anti-climax in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).
Faced with the grim prospect of being brought to justice, the gang leader has seen his stern nature melt like ice in the hot sun, and all he can do is to plead with the law enforcement agents to spare his life.
His victims had included eminent persons like human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, as well as Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, wife of a Supreme Court judge kidnapped with her daughter and driver on their way to Benin on May 10.
And only a few days ago, he was his boastful self as he addressed a gathering of his kinsmen at his Kokori native town in Delta State, where he gave President Goodluck Jonathan a 60-day ultimatum to address the degradation of his native land and other communities in the Niger Delta or face grave consequences.
All that, however, proved to be no more than a façade that harboured the true weakling that he is, according to reliable SSS sources.
A source who spoke in confidence said that Kelvin, who was brought to Abuja for interrogation, had made substantial revelations.
“Kelvin has made useful and shocking statements which cannot be released to the public now,” the source said. “I think Nigerians, especially the media, will have the opportunity either on Monday or anytime next week.
“Contrary to his posturing, however, Kelvin is a weakling. He is afraid of death. He is downcast in detention. He does not want to experience what he had done to his victims.”
Another source who spoke on the last minutes before his arrest said: “Like criminals before him, he was always in company of girls from one location to the other. He was trailed for many days but the SSS and the Army adhered strictly to the rule of engagement to avoid recording heavy casualties. It was a clinical job.
“Before his arrest by the SSS and the Army, members of the Kelvin gang had held two youth corps members hostage. But when he was picked up, he was afraid of death and he was begging intermittently, ‘don’t kill me, don’t kill me.’
“At this point, the security agents asked him to call his gang members and ask them to release the two corps members if he did not want to die. Kelvin then placed a call to his gang to release the corps members. But the realty was done on him that the game was over.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “We have a strong suspicion that Kelvin and his gang were behind the kidnapping of Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, who is the wife of a judge of the Supreme Court.”
Ozekhome yesterday said his experience would make him to rededicate his life to God. He said his 21-day experience in kidnappers’ den would make him to rededicate his life to God. Ozekhome, who issued a statement from London where he is recuperating, said: “I thank all of you Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, for all your incredible display of love, care, prayers and fasting for my release from the horrific dungeon of my kidnappers.
“Please give almighty God all the glory, honour, praises, thanks and adoration for my liberation and freedom. Glorify him more for the prompt arrest of their gang leaders and kingpins in a most unprecedented swift manner. “I especially thank the entire media, both print, electronic, and social media activists, for using my 21 days ordeal in the kidnapper’s gulag as a veritable metaphor to bring to the front burner of national and international discourse, the vexed issues of the national question, insecurity, corruption bad governance, infrastructural decay and youth unemployment in Nigeria. “I shall rededicate myself to God’s eternal worship and reinvigorated service to the beleaguered Nigerian masses and exploited mankind in general.”
Source: The Nation
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