The ransom demand was coming barely a week after the octogenarian was kidnapped by 10 gunmen at about 8:00pm at his Otuoke residence, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
During the operation, Nitabai was whisked off by the kidnappers in his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) which was later recovered at Onuebum waterfront making residents to suspect that the gunmen fled through the creeks.
In the process, the kidnappers forcefully collected N400, 000 from Chief Nitabai’s wife.
The State Police Command claimed it had arrested three suspects allegedly involved with the abduction of the president’s cousin. It was gathered the N500 million ransom came as a shock to Nitabai’s family as they could not afford to part with sum amount.
The abduction of the victim was said to have shocked the Presidency as it ordered the redeployment of more troops to Otuoke to step up security.
Newsmen were informed by a security agent who pleaded anonymity that the kidnappers even threatened to kill the septuagenarian if the family failed to pay the ransom.
The security source said Nitabai’s family had constituted a committee to evaluate the huge ransom and also negotiate with the kidnappers to facilitate his freedom.
According to the source, “The kidnappers contacted the family four days after the man was abducted and demanded a whooping sum of N500m. It is believed that the family of the victim has begun negotiations
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