Photo: Leadership.

Kidnappers.

Warri — THE Area Manager of the Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC) Warri area office, Engineer Enoh Williams was over the weekend kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Abraka road in Delta state.

A military personnel attached to him as an orderly was killed in the process before kidnappers could take away Engnr. Williams.

A source also told our correspondent that the kidnappers have established contact with the family of the hostage and demanded a ransom of N50million before he can be release.

This incident further exposed the state of insecurity in the state as no fewer than three persons are taken hostage in delta state for ransom.

It will be recalled that a Warri based journalist Prince Monday wiskey was last week kidnapped by hoodlums that demanded N10m as ransom but was fortunate to escape from the den of his adopters.

The 102-year old mother of a top traditional ruler in the state, Ovie of Mosogar, was released on Sunday from captivity.

The old woman, who was abducted last week, was dumped near Oghara Bridge in Ethiope West LGA of the state.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N150million from her family.

The spokesman delta state police Command, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed the report, adding that investigation has begun into the dastardly action.

Muka added that the command had mapped out strategies to curb the menace of kidnapping in the state. He said the efforts would soon yield results.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN and Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, in Warri Depot embarked on strike yesterday in protest against general insecurity in the state.

Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and NUPENG in Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, and Warri Area Office of PPMC withdrew their services yesterday.

Members of IPMAN and PTD deserted the Warri Depot, which services some states in the southern and northern axis of the country, when our correspondent visited the area yesterday.

Some oil workers, oil dealers and tanker drivers attached to the depot, who resumed for their usual daily assignments in the early hours of yesterday, were politely ordered to return home.

The latest development heightened fears of fresh fuel scarcity in the areas being service by the loading depot in the country.