Bayelsa Speaker’s in-law still in kidnappers’ den

The abducted mother-in-law of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, is still in the kidnappers’ den about two weeks after she was kidnapped.

The 86-year-old Ogboro Orumo was abducted by a gang of armed bandits on May 30 at her residence in Seibiri compound in Korokorosei, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The hoodlums, who operated a speed boat, stormed her home at about 1am and dragged her into the creeks shooting sporadically.

They were said to have established contact with a member of the family and demanded N40million ransom about one week after her abduction.

Sources said they threatened that the amount should not be negotiated downwards otherwise they would abandon her at their hideout and allow her to rot away.

But the Speaker, who visited his in-laws at Korokorosei last week to commiserate with them,vowed that no dime would be paid to the kidnappers to release the victim as the incident had been reported to the police.

A family source who did not want to be named confided in our correspondent on Monday that her captors were keeping mum after the ransom demand.

He appealed to them to release her for God’s sake as she was suffering from senility, adding that the incident was creating panic and anxiety in the family.

Meanwhile, the state police command has said that it is working round the clock to rescue the old woman and arrest the kidnappers.

The command’s spokesman, Alex Akhigbe, said on Monday in Yenagoa that detachments of the anti-kidnapping squad were combing the area to resolve the incident.

SOURCE; DAILY INDEPENDENT

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/06/bayelsa-speakers-law-still-kidnappers-den/