A man identifying himself as the personal assistant to Priest Balamene Karowei has come forward with a detailed and emotional account of his master’s disappearance.

“I am from Bayelsa State, Sagbama Local Government Area. I want to explain what happened to Priest Balamene Karowei, my master, on that day. I was there and saw everything myself, from the beginning to the end.

That day, Bodmas Kemepadei called me on the phone and asked how I was doing. I told him I was fine. He then said he wanted to come and meet my master, Priest Balamene Karowei so that he could do spiritual work for him. I told him I would first inform my master, Priest Balamene Karowei and if he agreed, I would let Bodmas Kemepadei know before he comes. He said okay, and we ended the call.

After that, I went to meet my master, Priest Balamene Karowei and told him everything. My master, Priest Balamene Karowei was surprised because this same man, Bodmas Kemepadei had spoken badly about him before and called him fake. My master, Priest Balamene Karowei wondered why he now wanted to come to him for help. He prayed and thanked God, saying that those who did not believe in him were now starting to believe.

Later, my master, Priest Balamene Karowei called me and said the Bodmas Kemepadei had sent two boys to his house, and I should come and attend to them. I went there and met the boys, Prince Miebi and Tekena. I brought chairs and drinks to welcome them, as our tradition requires.

We started talking. They asked me about my life, and I told them things were not easy for me. They did not believe some of the things I said. They also talked about my master, Priest Balamene Karowei and said he was a strong spiritual man.

After some time, my master, Priest Balamene Karowei came and joined us. They asked him questions, and he answered them calmly. While we were still there, one of the boys received a phone call. He said it was Bodmas Kemepadei who wanted to visit. Bodmas Kemepadei had reached the main road but did not know the way, so he called them to come and bring him.

At first, my master,Priest Balamene Karowei said it was already late and that he would prefer another day. But later, he agreed they should bring Bodmas Kemepadei.

When they returned with Bodmas Kemepadei, they did not come alone. They came with many people, including NSCDC security officers, namely Lucky Kenibai, Okosia Makeni, Yusuf and others I don’t know their names. They surrounded the place. We brought more chairs for them, but some of them refused to sit.

Bodmas Kemepadei then said he was sent by Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo to come and take my master, Priest Balamene Karowei to meet him. My master, Priest Balamene Karowei said he needed time because his wife was pregnant, it was already night, and he needed to pray before going anywhere.

Bodmas Kemepadei became angry and ordered his people to forcefully carry my master, Priest Balamene Karowei. They started dragging him. I was shocked and asked why they were doing that when they said they came peacefully. Bodmas Kemepadei told me not to worry and that nothing would happen to my master, Priest Balamene Karowei.

People in the area gathered and questioned what was happening because my master, Priest Balamene Karowei was known to be a peaceful man. Despite all the begging, they did not listen. They dragged him to the main road and pushed him into a vehicle.

My master’s Priest Balamene Karowei wife came out crying and tried to stop them, but they pushed her away. She almost fell into a gutter. They drove off with my master, Priest Balamene Karowei.

I was confused and hurt because it looked like I was the one who helped them set him up. I kept asking why they did this, but they did not listen. They said they were sent by Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and had to take him.

The main plan was to take my master, Priest Balamene Karowei to Oporoza to meet Tompolo.

When they were carrying my master, Priest Balamene Karowei, they did not allow me to go with them at first. But I insisted that I must follow. I kept begging until one of the officers spoke to their leader, and they finally allowed me to enter the vehicle.

As we were going, we stopped at a place in Tombia, in front of Joshua Maciver's house. Some of the men came down from the vehicle. After that, we continued the journey with only a few of them, including Bodmas Kemepadei and some NSCDC security  officers, namely Lucky Kenibai, Okosia Makeni, Yusuf and others

We traveled at night and reached Warri very late.

On the way, Bodmas Kemepadei ordered Prince Miebi to blindfold me and my master, Priest Balamene Karowei. I was shocked and asked why they were doing that, because they said it was just an invitation. It now looked like a kidnapping. Bodmas Kemepadei warned me to keep quiet. So I removed my cloth, and they used it to cover my eyes. They also used a towel to blindfold my master, Priest Balamene Karowei.

They also collected our phones.

They took us to a hotel in Warri and removed the blindfold there. They asked for rooms, and even though there were no rooms at first, they forced them to provide rooms for us.

We stayed there for the night. I was crying, and my master, Priest Balamene Karowei was also sad. Later, my master, Priest Balamene Karowei begged them to allow him call his wife, so she would not be worried. They gave him a phone, and he called her and told her he was in Warri and she should not be afraid.

The next morning, they brought clothes and things for him. After some time, they said we were going out. Again, they blindfolded us before moving.

We drove to another compound. When they removed my blindfold, I saw some people, including Godfrey Tare Pondi there. I greeted one of them, but Bodmas Kemepadei shouted at me and warned me not to talk to anyone. One of the boys Prince Miebi even hit me for greeting.

Bodmas Kemepadei took my master, Priest Balamene Karowei inside the building and Godfrey Tare Pondi asked one of the security to handcuffs him, but I was left outside.

After some time, Bodmas Kemepadei came out and said they would return to Bayelsa. I was confused because they said they were taking him to meet Tompolo. He told me that another group would take my master, Priest Balamene Karowei from there to meet Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo.

I started crying because I did not understand what was happening.

Bodmas Kemepadei took me back. On the way, we stopped to eat, but I could not eat because I was too worried. One of the officers tried to calm me down and said nothing would happen to my master, Priest Balamene Karowei.

When we got back to Bayelsa, they dropped me on the road and gave me some money. They told me to go home and take care of my master’s family.

When I reached home, people gathered around me asking what happened. My master’s wife ran to me, crying and asking where her husband was and what happened.

I did not even know how to explain everything.

When I first entered my master’s house, Priest Balamene Karowei. Then I went into the temple and prayed, thanking God for mercy and everything.

After that, I went to my master, Priest Balamene Karowei ’s mother’s room and met her. Not long after, his wife and some neighbors also came. They were all waiting to hear what happened. I explained everything clearly—how we were blindfolded, what we went through, and how I returned back.

My master, Balamene Karowei ’s mother started crying. She cried and cried, swearing and crying again. It continued like that, and it was very hard for me to leave the place.

From that day until now, nobody has heard from my master, Priest Balamene Karowei. Whenever people call him on phone, it is switched off, and he has not called anyone back till today.

After five months months, I came across someone named Jude on Facebook. He used to post about injustice and oppression, especially cases happening in Bayelsa and Delta states. He also shared stories from people who had gone through terrible experiences in Tompolo’s private prison.

When I saw his page, I commented on one of his posts and asked him to share his number so we could talk on WhatsApp. After we connected, he told me he had heard about the kidnapping case but did not have enough evidence to talk about it publicly.

He asked if I was the person who witnessed everything, and I told him yes. He then asked me to explain everything in detail so he could share it online and let people know what was happening in Bayelsa and Delta, including how some people were operating under some powerful persons.

I explained everything to him and sent him a voice note on WhatsApp. After that, he started posting about the Maunga case on social media.

Jude was not the only one speaking up, but he was one of the main people calling out those involved. He kept posting about it again and again.

There was a day my my master, Priest Balamene Karowei  wife was traveling with the children and she was arrested by Bayelsa State Police before she could leave Bayelsa State, They even questioned the children and doubted that she was their mother. People from our area had to come and confirm that the children were hers and also narrated how husband was kidnapped by Bodmas Kemepadei taken to Delta State for Tompolo, all information were given to the authority working with the Bayelsa State Governor directly that he is interested in the case.

The children were taken away and kept for many weeks with the a government orphanage home, a DNA test was run between the children and the my master, Priest Balamene Karowei wife to make sure the children belong to her before they were finally released back to her.

The government promised to assist the family but up till today nothing was done.

Because of all this, I had to leave Bayelsa. After the story was posted online, I started receiving threats. Someone warned me to run for my life because those involved in kidnapping my master, Priest Balamene Karowei are looking for me.

I told Jude, and he advised me to leave immediately because my life was in danger. I had nowhere to go at first, but I eventually found help and managed to escape.

If I had stayed, I might have been killed. But I believe God saved me dor a reason.

But now, an innocent boy, Patrick Peresuodei has died for no reason, because the state government refused to tackle these issues happening in the state.