The Delta State Government said it never paid N500m as ransom for the release of Ebikeme Clark, son of Edwin Clark as claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Ovuozorie Macaulay, it said said there was never a time it parted with any money as it remains the policy of the state not to pay or encourage payment of ransom by families.
The statement read, “The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to a release by a group called MEND, alleging that the Delta State Government parted with the sum of N500m as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark, son of Chief E.K. Clark who was kidnapped and released a few days ago.
“In the said statement, it was also alleged that the kidnap was stage managed by Ebikeme Clark and the police to swindle the State Government of such an amount.
“The Delta State Government wishes to state categorically that it did not part with any money as ransom for the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark.
“It is the policy of the Government not to pay or encourage the payment of ransom by families as this encourages more kidnappings. The state government has had previous cases of high profile kidnappings that the victims have been kept much longer than that of Ebikeme.
“The government did not pay any ransom. What then is so special about Mr. Ebikeme Clark that will make the State Government pay ransom?”
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