The kidnappers of Augusta
Douglas-Ayam, the sister of Oronto Douglas, Special Adviser to the President on
Research and Documentation, have reduced the ransom for her release from N500m
to N10m.
It was however reliably learnt that
the negotiator for the family told the kidnappers that they could only part
with N3m.
The ailing woman was abducted from
her store last Monday night at about 8.30pm by nine armed men alleged clad in
army camouflage and whisked away at Ogbia town in Ogbia local government area
of Bayelsa State to an unknown destination in the creeks.
Though the whereabouts of Mrs Augusta
Douglas-Ayam were unknown, the kidnappers reportedly contacted her husband, Mr.
Azibayam, at about 2am on Thursday asking for N500m.
The ransom was however reduced to
N17m on Friday and later to N10m yesterday after failing to contact the
presidential aide.
It was learnt that the kidnappers
slashed down the ransom to N10m after discussing with their victim’s husband.
But the troubled Azibayam was said to
have told the caller that he could only afford N3million.
The source, who pleaded anonymity
said, “For the first time, the kidnappers were calm in their conversation. They
didn’t sound furious this time around. They simply asked that we should look
for N10million.
”But the woman’s husband begged them
to collect N3million. He told them he could only afford N3million. They asked
him to increase the money to enable them free his wife.”
The source expressed optimism that
their sister could be set free by tomorrow (Monday).
”With the way the conversation is
going, we hope that our sister will be released on or before Monday,” he said.
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