Abductors of Inengite Nitabai, the septuagenarian cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, have requested N500m ransom from the family

Abductors of Inengite Nitabai, the septuagenarian
cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, have
requested N500m ransom from the family to set
the victim free.
The outrageous demand, it was learnt, had
unsettled members of Nitabai’s family who were
said to be confused on the next line of action.
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.