Kidnappers of Jonathan's cousin demand N40m ransom

Kidnappers of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin and Bayelsa State Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Sarafina Otazi, have demanded N40million ransom from her family before they will release her.
It was gathered on Tues¬day that Otazi’s abductors had contacted her family and asked that the money be paid before they would free her.
Otazi had been in the kidnappers’ den since December 20, 2015 when she was taken hostage at gun-point while travelling from her Otuoke community to Ewoi in Ogbia Local Government Area for a burial event.
A former Acting Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Council, Otazi first served as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the Dickson-led admin¬istration before she was re-deployed to the Ministry of Local Government Administration.
A member of the family by the name Endurance Frank, confirmed the kidnappers’ demand of N40million ransom for her release.
He said the kidnappers insisted that the family must pay the money before she can regain her freedom.
Frank said the family, however, heaved a sigh of relief after hearing from the victim as there had been fear that she might have died in their custody.
He appealed to the kidnappers to release her unconditionally as the family does not have such amount of money.
Meanwhile, the where-about of Governor Dickson’s younger sister, Nancy Dickson, who was kidnapped barely 24 hours after Otazi has remained unknown.
The 26-year-old Dickson was abducted in broad daylight with her salesgirl from her shop at Okaka area of the state capital, Yenagoa recently.
The challenge of insecurity has heightened in geometrical proportion in Bayelsa following reports of incessant kidnappings, sea piracy, bag snatching, burglary, gang-related violence and killings across the state.
Reports indicate that no fewer than 28 persons, among whom, are government officials and their re¬lations, were kidnapped by armed gangs within the last quarter of 2015.