Abductors of paramount ruler’s wife, principal in Bayelsa demand N100m ransom

THE abductors of Mrs Tina Inegbagha, wife of Paramount ruler in Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have demanded a ransom of N100 million to free their captive.

It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen had on December 16, 2017 invaded the coastal settlement abducting the monarch’s wife and Mr Egele Jack, the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro. .

Mr Majesty Inegbagha, a member of the monarch’s family said in Yenagoa on Friday that the abductors have contacted the family with the demand.

“The paramount ruler, who is my elder brother confirmed to me this morning that the kidnappers have called him and demanded the sum of N100 million and it was a relief to the tension that has built up since all these days.

“Although the family is pleased to know that the woman is alive, the thought of raising that sum of money has created an additional challenge to the family and we appeal to them to free her on humanitarian grounds as we lack the means to pay,” Inegbagha said.

He expressed optimism that the abducted paramount ruler’s wife and the school principal would regain their freedom following fervent prayers by family members and well-meaning members of the public as well as efforts of the security agencies.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Asuquo Amba, had in a response to a question on the incident during an interactive session with newsmen on the crime situation on Monday said that the incident was being investigated.

Amba said that following the recent upsurge in violent crimes in Bayelsa, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, had sent a special squad to compliment the efforts of the Police Command in combating crime.