The visit by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan last
weekend has failed to secure the release of his foster father by gunmen,
who abducted the president’s relative for ransom.
It
was learned that the kidnappers may have fulfilled an earlier threat to
kill the hostage if their terms were not met. This development has
heightened anxiety in the community.
Bayelsa Police Command has,
however, dismissed rumors of the death of Chief Nengite Nitabai, the 70
year old uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan being held in the
kidnappers’ den.
Mr Hilary Okpara, Commissioner of Police in
Bayelsa, described the rumors as “wicked lies,” adding that Police are
closing in on the hoodlums who abducted the septuagenarian 15 days ago.
Okpara,
who failed to prove that the 70 year old was still alive, said that six
suspects, including a traditional ruler believed to be the father of
the leader of the kidnapping gang, was arrested in connection with the
abduction.
Members of the president’s family had offered a ransom
sum of N30 million which the abductors rejected. They are demanding
N500 million to release the president’s uncle, and derided the family
offer as “paltry.”
The family was said to have sought the
intervention of the President, who returned to Otuoke on Thursday, and
left on Friday, after a brief meeting with family members.
The kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostage if the ransom was not paid.
The
visit of Jonathan last weekend had raised hopes that the abducted
Nitabai would be freed within days. The president was expected to
augment the N30 million to meet the N500 million sum demanded by the
kidnappers.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/61460.html
No comments:
Post a Comment