Picture Of Kidnapped Sister Of President Jonathan's Aide,Husband Pleads For Release

Husband of Auguster Douglas-Azibayam, the kidnapped sister to the Presidential Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, on Friday made a passionate appeal to the abductors of his wife.

“Please, Please, release my wife. I am just a poor teacher,” Azibayam Apaga muttered in a voice laced with grief.

Douglas-Ayam was seized and whisked away to an unknown area in the creeks by nine gunmen who wore army uniforms.

The gunmen who operated on a black speedboat abducted her at the Ogbia waterside at about 8.45 pm on Monday after shooting into the air.

But four days after keeping mum, the kidnappers contacted the woman’s husband at about 2 am on Thursday and asked for a whopping N500 million.

The husband could only beg the bandits to release his wife.

His appeal came shortly after it was learnt that the kidnappers had slashed their initial demand of N500 million ransom to N17 million.

The bandits were said to have reduced their outrageous ransom on Friday when the traumatised husband of their victim contacted them for further negotiation.

A family source who monitored the conversation said the kidnappers were furious when Azibayam told them he could not afford the money.

He said the abductors became indignant when Azibayam said he could only afford N3 million.

“The kidnappers were angry and threatened that they would kill the woman. But the husband told them it would be of no benefit to them as killing her would not bring out the money.

“He asked them to accept his proposal as he is just a mere teacher. But they cut the phone and promised to call by 3 pm,” he said.

The source further said the kidnappers tried in vain to establish communication with Douglas.

He said: “That was their expectation. They thought that they could get money from Douglas. But they didn’t know that the woman they kidnapped has not been benefitting from the Presidency.

“She was just struggling like every other Nigerian with her husband. If she had been that rich, she wouldn’t have been doing petty trade at Ogbia waterside. She is also teaching in a primary school to sustain herself.

“If she had been close to Oronto, she would have been in Abuja enjoying her life. The kidnappers have been trying in vain to reach Oronto.”

When Azibayam was contacted, he insisted that he could not afford the money demanded by the kidnappers and appealed to his wife’s abductors to release her.

“I am just the principal Government Secondary School, Ogbia town. Since I started teaching in the past 35 years, l have never seen such money the kidnappers are demanding.

“I have emptied my bank account and my other financial sources. I could only raise N3 million. Maybe if they release my wife l could pay them the money by installment. We are not rich. We are just managing our lives,” he said.

He also confirmed that the kidnappers promised to call him again by 3pm. They were yet to call him at the time of filing this report.