NKEM OWOH, an actor

The militant of the Niger Delta in protest of the devastation of their environment by the oil companies in Nigeria started kidnapping the foreign nationals that were working in those companies to show them what destruction the communities were subjected to. They started with the foreign nationals and then some of the senior management staff of those oil companies. The militants resorted to this when it seems the bombing of police posts and oil installations was not getting the international communities attention.
The Militants of the Niger Delta had a reason for that because for many years, the Federal Government of Nigeria paid lip service to devastation in the area. The heavy pollution that left the region bare of cash crop and aquatic life did not bother them as long as the oil companies are paying royalties and taxes to the government. The people on whose land the crude was flowing and millions of Dollars flowing into "agabadas " (flowing robes), were neglected and abandoned. The land produced money but the people live in abject poverty. The oil companies workers are living in concrete building with clean water to use, electricity, social amenities, good and tarred roads while the owners of the oil are living in thatched houses with no light, no water and no social amenities.
These evil forced the youths in the region who unfortunately were unemployed and uneducated to take to armed struggle and kidnapping for attention. The kidnap of the wife of the head of the Lulu-Briggs family and the huge ransom opened a new avenue of financing the struggle. Did their struggle get the needed attention? Oh yes it got the attention of the whole world.
The kidnapping that the Militants in the Niger Delta started and the money collected as ransome became the new business the igbo people of the Eastern Nigeria has gone into now. No more spare parts and electronics. The kidnapping in the East is not as a result of oil spill that has destroyed sources of livelihood but for gains and quick money. First, Pete Edochie was kidnapped and later released and Professor Charles Soludo's father was kidnapped. Although Pa Soludo's kidnapping was politically motivated, it was still kidnapping for money. Why will any one think kidnapping of a fellow human being is a good business. Do they know the trauma that the kidnapped person goes through deprived of freedom? What wickedness!
Now NKEM OWOH, a popular and award winning actor was kidnapped on the Port Harcourt/ Owerri road last week and since then the kidnappers have been communicating with the family on the ransom to be paid before release. The ransom amount is so small but the nightmare he is going through would live with him for ever.
Please Nigerians, this is not business. This is a terrible siege on everyone and Nigeria will suffer for it. As it is now, most of those artists in the East will start relocating to LAGOS. Even the shooting of films in Enugu will stop then the people who were benefitting from that business will start counting their losses. The eastern part of Nigeria will be greatly affected .
Remember Christmas is coming. If this trend does not stop, then the regular exodus home of the igbos may not be witnessed this year.