Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s foster father

THERE was pandemonium on Sunday night in President Goodluck Jonathan’s Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Council Area of Bayelsa State as suspected gunmen abducted his 70 year-old foster father, Chief Inengite Nitabai.

  Nitabai, who is the President’s cousin, was kidnapped at about 9pm from his compound located before Otuoke Bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road.

  However, the police yesterday said one of the suspects has been arrested over the crime.

  According to security operatives, the bandits numbering about 10 invaded the community on Sunday.

  The abducted chief, according to source, was described as the traditional head of the President Jonathan’s compound. And his residence is few metres away from the President’s house.

  The victim’s wife’s sister, Akinobebh Jin, said Nitabai’s son first sighted the bandits and raised the alarm, saying: “We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the veranda doing his assignment while my in-law, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together. Then after, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had just entered into the compound. As we sprang on our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to”.

  A source at the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield claimed the incident occurred at about 9pm and that the armed men used the private vehicle of the abducted man. The vehicle was later recovered at Onuebum community waterfront.

  He added: “The Deputy Commander of the JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa and a team of security agents have visited the location to assess the crime scene and investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim”

  Also, spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who denied knowledge of any close family affiliation of the abducted chief with the President, said preliminary report available has identified the kidnappers and one suspect was in police custody.

  Akhigbe said the police report showed that the abducted community leader had made a report at the Kolo Police Station on the illegal sale of his land by some unidentified persons. 

  He added: “After it was discovered, the abducted man insisted that the culprits refund the buyer his money and leave his land alone. He was later kidnapped.

  “We have identified those involved and are on their trail. One of the suspects is in our custody. The vehicle also has been recovered. I cannot establish the relationship between the abducted chief and the President.”