Tag: Jonathan’s cousin:

Kidnappers of President Goodluck Jonathan’ s cousin Inengite Nitabai have rejected the N30 million ransom offered them to free their victim.

They described the money as “too small and ‘unpresidential.”

It was gathered that the 10-man gang dismissed the offer as meagre, describing it as a “joke”.

A top security source, who pleaded for anonymity, said:

“The family offered them N30 million but they turned it down and dismissed it as a joke.

“They said they would not collect such ‘small’ money from someone close to the President,” he said.

Nitabai was abducted on February 23 from his home in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He was driven in his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) by the bandits, who harassed his in-law and collected N400,000 from his wife.

His vehicle was recovered at Onuebum waterside, fuelling speculations that his abductors escaped with him through the creeks.

Three days after the incident, the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N500 million.

The abductors were said to have stuck to their demand, despite appeals from the family to accept N30 million.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) warned security agencies and the family not to pay ransom to the kidnappers.

Rising from its inaugural meeting at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, IYC said its three-man committee working with security agencies for the release of Nitabai was making progress.

Speaking after the meeting, the group’s spokesman, Eric Omare, refused to give the names of the members for security reasons.

He said IYC would not glorify kidnapping by paying ransom to the perpetrators.

Omare promised that with the efforts made by the committee, Nitabai would soon be freed.

“In consonance with the position of the IYC, we have advised the relevant persons not to offer any ransom because if we pay, we are encouraging kidnapping.

“IYC ‘s position is that criminality must be erased from Ijawland, so we have told them not to offer any ransom.

“Though he has not been released, we are sure in the next few days, we would effect his release.”

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived Otuoke, his hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area, for a one-day private visit.

He will attend the funeral of the father of one of his aides, Patrick Oba, who hails from his hometown.

The President arrived at the Government House, Yenagoa, at 5.28 p.m. and was received by Governor Seriake Dickson, Dokubo Asari and other dignitaries.

Jonathan might visit the Nitabai’s family and attend to family matters.

The atmosphere was gloomy yesterday at the house of Inengite Nitabai, the cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, who was abducted on Sunday by 10 gunmen.

Distraught family members and sympathisers sat in groups in the compound in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, discussing the incident.

The assailants, it was gathered, have not contacted the family three days after the abduction.

This has created panic and heightened apprehension among family members.

There are different conspiracy theorioes on the motive of the abductors.

Some are considering assassination, others dismissed it and believed the gunmen carried out the act for ransom.

“We are afraid for our father. Apart from the fact that he is old, his kidnappers have remained silent. Their silence is killing us.

“This is the third day and we have not heard anything from them. We are waiting for their call,” a family member said.

But another family member believes that the gunmen must have carried out the act for money, especially knowing the relationship between their victim and the President.

One of Nitabai’s sons, Frank, said they were apprehensive. He said the family was seeking divine intervention.

“We have arranged praying and fasting to seek the face of God. Every morning and evening, we gather to pray for his freedom.

“We are pleading with the kidnappers to let our father go,” he said.

A top security source said the development had rattled the Presidency, adding that Jonathan had ordered security operatives to find his adopted father.

“More security operatives and intelligence officers have arrived in the state from Abuja.

“The 2 Brigade has also deployed more soldiers. In fact, the whole place is flooded with security operatives,” he said.

A visit to the state police command in Yenagoa showed that Nitabai’s relatives were having a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara.

It was learnt that the meeting was aimed at settling a land dispute between the victim and some of his relations.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) condemned the kidnap.

A statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, consoled the President and the victim’s family.

The Ijaw youth body vowed to work with security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

It said the development was an acid test to the anti-kidnapping law of the state and appealed to Governor Seriake Dickson to ensure that persons behind the incident were apprehended and prosecuted.

“To this end, IYC has set up a three-man team to coordinate and collaborate with security agents to fish out the kidnappers.”