ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Abductors of the 80-year-old Betinah Benson, mother of the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Dr Kombowei Benson, have demanded a ransom of N500m for her release.
Also, kidnappers demanded N200m for the release of Tari Ajanami, the owner of popular Club 64 in Yenagoa.
It was learnt that police investigators investigating the abductions were already looking at the possibility that the two kidnap incidents were carried out by one group.
While both abductions happened few days from the other, the ransom demand also occurred few hours apart.
Attempts to get the confirmation on the kidnappers’ demands from the spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, was not successful as his phone did not connect.
But a member of the family of the abducted club owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the family had been contacted by the kidnappers who demanded a ransom of N200m.
“I was shocked when they demanded N200m. I hope and pray that they release our brother unhurt,” the family source said.
Recall that Bayelsa SSG’s mother was kidnapped for the second time in eight years last month at her residence in the Old Assembly Quarters, Yenagoa. Her abductors were reportedly dressed in military uniforms.
In the case of the club owner, Ajanami, an indigene of Ayamasa town in Ekeremor area of the state, he was abducted by his assailants at his project site along Otiotio Road in the state capital.