ORONTO DOUGLAS: Kidnappers reduce ransom from N500m to N10m

• We can’t pay more than N3m — Family

The kidnappers of Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the sister of Oronto Douglas, Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, have reduced the ransom for her release from N500m to N10m.

It was however reliably learnt that the negotiator for the family told the kidnappers that they could only part with N3m.

The ailing woman was abducted from her store last Monday night at about 8.30pm by nine armed men alleged clad in army camouflage and whisked away at Ogbia town in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State to an unknown destination in the creeks.

Though the whereabouts of Mrs Augusta Douglas-Ayam were unknown, the kidnappers reportedly contacted her husband, Mr. Azibayam, at about 2am on Thursday asking for N500m. The ransom was however reduced to N17m on Friday and later to N10m yesterday after failing to contact the presidential
aide.

It was learnt that the kidnappers slashed down the ransom to N10m after discussing with their victim’s husband.

But the troubled Azibayam was said to have told the caller that he could only afford N3million.

The source, who pleaded anonymity said, “For the first time, the kidnappers were calm in their conversation. They didn’t sound furious this time around. They simply asked that we should look for N10million.

”But the woman’s husband begged them to collect N3million. He told them he could only afford N3million. They asked him to increase the money to enable them free his wife.”

The source expressed optimism that their sister could be set free by tomorrow (Monday).

”With the way the conversation is going, we hope that our sister will be released on or before Monday,” he said.