Kidnap Of President’s Cousin: Security Agents Nab Two …No Contact With Abductors Of Rivers PDP Chieftains

Security sources said two persons had been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Inengite Nitabai, a week ago.
The source said security agents are working on the theory that some family members may have connived with outsiders to carry out the act.
One of the victim’s sons had alleged that his father had reported some family members to the Bayelsa State commissioner of police for illegally selling his plots of land, and that the matter was to be discussed on the Monday preceding the day he was kidnapped.
However, as police was working on the theory and also combing the entire forests and creeks in Ogbia Local Government Area and its neighbours, the kidnappers were said to have contacted the family and made a demand for N500million before they could realise him.
A security source told our correspondent that the abductors threatened to kill their victim if the family failed to produce the money.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the family had constituted a committee to evaluate the wicked 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 matter.
“The kidnappers contacted the family four days after and demanded a whooping sum of N500million. It is believed that the family of the victim has begun negotiations with the hoodlums”, he said.
Distraught family members and sympathisers had shortly after the incident weighed the motives behind the dastardly act.
The atmosphere became gloomier following refusal of the assailants to establish contact with the family of their victim three days after the abduction.
The incommunicado of the kidnappers, it was observed, created panic and heightened apprehension among members of the family.
The development was said to have rattled the Presidency, which ordered massive deployment of security in Otuoke and the Niger Delta creeks.
It would be recalled that gunmen had forcefully seized Nitabai penultimate Sunday after collecting about N400,000 from his wife.
Commotion and panic reigned supreme in the compound of Nitabai when the bandits gained access to the area between 8pm and 9pm on the fateful day.
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 taken away on his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) 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.
Meanwhile, tension has heightened in Port Harcourt Federal Constituency Two, Rivers State following the kidnapping of three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , last week.
Sources close to the families revealed that no contact has been established with the three PDP chieftains or their kidnappers.
Those abducted includes former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Chinyere Igwe, the PDP Chairman in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Ikechi Chindah and another chieftain of the PDP, Mr Allwell Ihunwo.
Efforts to contact the police failed as the Commissioner of Police, Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin’s  mobile phone did not go through while the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad said he was indisposed.
Politicians who spoke on the incident, preferred anonymity but expressed shock over the incident.
They, however, prayed that the three men would be released unharmed.
Meanwhile, an online media report had indicated yesterday that the kidnappers of the three PDP members were demanding the sum of N140million for their release.

L-R:Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Sanmi Alade, Commander, Italian Maritime Frontline Force, Adm. Paolo Treu, Commander, Western Fleet, Cdre. Austin Owhorchuku and Commander, NNS Beercroft, Cdre. Emmanuel Uwadiae, at the arrival of Italian war ship to Nigeria at the Western Naval Command in Apapa, last Friday

Ike Wigodo