11 days after kidnap, President Jonathan’s uncle, Nitabai, still not found

Goodluck Jonathan

The abductors have demanded a N500 million ransom.

Despite the heavy deployment of security operatives to fish out the abductors of President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle, Inengite Nitabai, and ensure the victim’s release, his whereabouts remain unknown.

It was reported the kidnap of Mr. Nitabai, who is also said to be Mr. Jonathan’s foster father, on February 23 gunmen in Otuoke, the president’s hometown, in Ogbia Local Government Area.

The spokesperson for the Bayelsa Police, Alex Akhigbe, said on Wednesday that the police had no new information on the kidnap beyond the arrest of three suspects.

Security sources had said that the kidnappers established contact with the family 10 days ago and demanded a ransom of N500 million to free the victim.

Checks in Ogbia council showed heavy presence of many security operatives from various agencies including the police and the Joint Task Force; all ostensibly deployed to secure the release of Mr. Nitabai.

Security has also been tightened at the creeks with armed security operatives intensifying patrols in the waterways.

The Ijaw Youths Council has also raised a three-man committee to work withsecurity agencies to close in on the kidnappers.

There have been several cases of kidnap in Bayelsa with many of the victims’ families secretly paying ransom to the abductors.

The kidnap incidents have increased despite the promulgation of a law in the state last year to punish kidnapping with the death penalty.