At Last, Kidnapped Jonathan’s Father Regains Freedom

 

The foster father of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Nitabai Inegite, who was kidnapped alongside his newphew a month ago, has regained freedom.

Inegite regained his freedom on Tuesday evening, after former President had vowed not to pay ransom to secure his release.

The 72-year-old and one of his nephew, Samuel Okies, 35 years, were kidnapped on February 17 from the residence of the Inegites in Otuoke community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

Two days after the kidnap, Okies who was shot during the kidnap incident was found dead with his body floating on the Otuoke River.

The kidnappers were said to have reduced their initial ransom from N50m to N2m, but Jonathan had insisted that he was not going to pay any ransom.

The commissioner of police, Bayelsa state Police command, Mr Peter Ogunyanwo who disclosed this in Yenagoa during the parade of 37 armed robbery and kidnappers suspects at the Police headquarters commended the stance taken Jonathan not to pay ransom so as to discourage kidnapping.

“On the kidnap of the foster father of former President Gooluck Jonathan, Chief Inegite, I have met several times with the former president on the matter and he has insisted that he is not going to pay ransom. The kidnappers have reduced their ransom to about N2m but the former President said he would not pay ransom.”

“ We are on the trail of the kidnappers and we would get them. People should not pay ransom. Just like Governor Henry Seriake Dickson also did not pay ransom for the freedom of his sister, people should be discouraged to pay ransom so that the business of kidnapping would stop,” he said.

Ogunyanwo explained that since assumption of duty in Bayelsa state, the command has enthroned a robust crime strategy.

While disclosing that criminal elements are devising various ways to beat security network to commit crime, he said the Bayelsa state police command is up to the task to combat crime to a standstill despite noticeable challenges.

Ogunyanwo who said the Police foiled a kidnap attempt of the newly sworn-in chairman of the state environmental sanitation authority, Hon Robert Enogha, urged members of the public to come with useful information that would ensure that criminal elements are not allowed to operate in Bayelsa state.