Police Dismiss Rumour On Jonathan’s Cousin’s Death In Kidnappers’ Den

 

The Police in Bayelsa State have described as untrue, claims that the kidnapped 70-year-old Chief Inengite Nitabai, cousin to President Goodluck Jonathan, has been killed in the kidnappers’ den. The news of the alleged death of the septuagenarian hit Yenagoa, the state capital, on Sunday.


According to the Police authorities, the rumour was a mischievous attempt to throw off track, investigation into the kidnap and the arrest of those involved. A police source, however, confirmed the arrest of a 57 years old man said to be the father of the leader of the kidnappers’ gang and five others, over the abduction of the former university lecturer.
 It was learnt that the suspects were arrested in Odioma community, off the Atlantic coast of Brass, in Brass Local Government Area of the state. The septuagenarian was abducted penultimate Sunday at his Otuoke country home by 10 gunmen, who later established contact with his family demanding N500 million ransom to set him free.
 The family, it was, however, learnt, agreed to pay N30 million, which was reportedly rejected by the kidnappers. It was reliably learnt from a security source that a crack team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the state police command was close to wrapping up the investigation and securing the release of the septuagenarian.
The security source also confirmed the arrest of a chief from Odioma over his alleged involvement in the abduction.