Kidnapped uncle of President Jonathan Chief Nengite Nitabai, 70, whose abduction took place since February. 23 has been rescued by the Police in Bayelsa.
This happy development was confirmed by Mr. Hilary Okara, Commisioner of Police in the State, during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa on Thursday. He said Chief Nitabai was freed in Odioma community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
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 rumours that the septuagenarian had died in the hands of his abductors and assured that the police were closing in on the hoodlums.
Also, the police spokesman, Mr Alex Akhigbe, said that no ransom was paid for Nitabai’s release. It will be recalled that members of Nitabai’s family had reportedly offered a ransom of N30 million which was rejected. The abductors rather had demanded for a princely N500 million booty.
