Gunmen, who kidnapped the traditional ruler of Ikarama, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, King Richard Seiba, have demanded the sum of N30million for his release.
A source in the palace disclosed that the abductors called the traumatised wife of the King at about 3AM on Monday and made the ransom demand.
The source noted that members of the victim’s family and some elders were keeping vigil at the palace when the gunmen contacted the family.
“Since this incident occurred, the wife has not been able to sleep. She was at the palace with some community elders when someone called and said he was part of a gang holding Seiba hostage since Saturday when he was abducted around 2AM. He said we must provide N30million ransom for the monarch to be freed.
He, however, said the abductors gave the wife an opportunity to speak to the victim, ending speculations that the monarch might have been killed.
According to the source, said the kidnappers did not give an ultimatum of when the money must be provided, describing the amount demanded as outrageous.
But the police and the State Security Service said they had intensified the search for the victim.
Though the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, said he had not been officially briefed on the ransom demand, a top security source confirmed it to our correspondent.
