Abductors of 70-year-old cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, Inengite Nitabai, have demanded a N500 Million ransom from his family, reports say.
Nitabai was kidnapped in his home in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, February 23, 2014.
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The abductors have threatened to kill Nitabai if the sum is not paid and have warned the family from involving security authorities.
The family is in negotiation with the abductors to see to the release of their family head.
Punch reports:
A top security source told our correspondent that the abductors threatened to kill Nitabai (Jonathan’s adopted father) if the family failed to produce the money soon.
The source, who craved anonymity, said the family had constituted a committee to evaluate the demand, establish negotiations with the abductors and facilitate his release.
He said the kidnappers as usual warned against the involvement of security operatives in the whole issue.
“The kidnappers contacted the family four days after and demanded the sum of N500m. It is believed that the family of the victim has begun negotiations with the hoodlums,” the source stated.
Angry family members and sympathisers had shortly after the incident weighed the motives behind the dastardly act.
The atmosphere became gloomier following the refusal of the assailants to establish contact with the Nitabais three days after the septuagenarian was whisked away.
The incommunicado of the abductorss, it was learnt, caused panic and heightened apprehension among members of the family.
The development allegedly rattled the Presidency which ordered massive deployment of security in Otuoke and the Niger Delta creeks.
The gunmen forcibly seized Nitabai on Sunday after collecting about N400,000 from his wife, Owiya.
Confusion and panic reigned supreme in the compound of Nitabai when the abductors gained access to the area between 8pm and 9pm on Sunday. The victim, his wife, his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants stormed the compound.
Nitabai was whisked away in his Sports Utility Vehicle, which was later recovered at Onuebum waterside, fueling speculations that the victim was taken away through the creeks.
But it was learnt that respite came the way of the family when the kidnappers contacted them to make the ransom demand on Friday.
