Suspected Niger Delta militants have allegedly changed condition on which three Dutch nationals would be released, demanded N500m in ransom.
According to a report by The Punch, the kidnappers insisted on May 7, 2014, Wednesday that without the sum of N500m, their hostages would not regain their freedom. The updated demand for ransom was revealed as the result of negotiations between the abductors and the families and organisation of the hostages: Mrs Marianne Hendricks-Vox, Mr Yandries Groenendijk and Mr Erhard Leffers.
* Three Dutch Nationals and two Nigerians with the traditional ruler of Iduwini Kingdom, hours before their kidnap. Photo credit – Onojeghen Theophilus
Meanwhile the Police Command of Bayelsa State is not in position to pay any ransom, neither N20m, nor N500m. It has continued a massive rescue operation to secure the release of the foreigners.
The Police Commissioner of Bayelsa State did not confirm the amount of requested ransom, denied the reports on arrest of two Nigerian-born Dutch nationals, Mr Femi Soewu and Mr Sunny Ofehe, who were also kidnapped by the same gunmen, but regained freedom in the late hours of May 5, 2014, Monday.
He said they were invited by the police for an interview to get more information about the mood and utterances of the kidnappers.
The CP noted that though the decision of the organizer of the ill-fated trip and the Dutch nationals not to inform the security agencies was wrong and irresponsible, the government in partnership with security agencies would do its best to free them.
It would be recalled that the kidnap took place along the creeks of Letugbene (Delta-Bayelsa border) in the evening of May 4, 2014, Sunday.
If you wish to know how this story develops, use
Know more about this news? Update the info!