13th March, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle, Chief Nengite Nitabai, 70, kidnapped on 23 February by gunmen has been rescued by the police in Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Okara, who confirmed this in Yenagoa Thursday, revealed that Nitabai was rescued in Odioma community in Brass Local Government Area of the state.
Nitabai, a community leader in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, was freed unharmed and had re-united with his family.
“We rescued Nitabai from Odioma coastal settlement and as I speak with you, I am with him in his house in Otuoke,” Okpara said.
Okpara said six suspects, including a traditional ruler believed to be the father of the leader of the gang, were arrested in connection with the abduction.
Okpara had on Wednesday dispelled rumour that the septuagenarian had died in the hands of his abductors and assured that the police were closing in on the hoodlums.
The state police command spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed that no ransom was paid for Nitabai’s release.
In the heat of negotiation for the release of the community leader, members of his family offered to pay the kidnappers a ransom of N30 million but this was rejected by the abductors who demanded for N500 million.