The abductors of Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam, sister to the Special Adviser to the President on Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, have demanded N500 million as ransom, five days after her kidnap.
Mrs. Douglas-Ayam was reportedly kidnapped at about 8 pm on Monday in Ogbia, Bayelsa State by unknown gunmen, with Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta, MEND claiming it had contact with the kidnappers who it said kidnapped Douglas-Ayam over the family’s ‘waste of government resources’ during their father’s burial almost one year ago.
According to a family source, the abductors insisted that the money must be paid by today. They claimed that they were not interested in any negotiations on the ransom.
“They contacted us this morning (yesterday) and asked for a ransom of N500 million. It is laughable because we don’t have that kind of money. They told us to pay before Friday (today), as they would not negotiate. We have already contacted security agencies to intimate them about the development,” he said.
Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the latest development. He said the police were doing all they could to secure her immediate release without harm.