Kidnappers fed me with garri and oil – Jonathan’s uncle

Chief Inengite Nitabai, President Goodluck
Jonathan’s uncle and adopted father, has been
rescued by the police after 18 days in the
kidnappers’ den.
However, Nitabai, whose abduction had occupied
media space, has sour tales to tell.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of his captors,
Nitabai, a former university lecturer, said his
abductors fed him with garri and oil for the 18 days
he was held captive.
He also said he was blindfolded throughout the
period.
He said he was almost submerged in a swamp
while the kidnappers were moving him from one
spot to another because he was blindfolded.
The already emanciated man, said, “My ordeal in
the hands of my captors was simply horrendous.
“I was blindfolded for those 18 days. So I did not
see my abductors.
“They fed me with garri and oil. There was a day
they were asking me some foolish questions and I
kept quiet. They were upset and beat me up. It was
a miracle I did not die that day.”
Inengite said he had yet to know the motive behind
his abduction.
When reminded that it could be because of his
relation with President Jonathan, he answered that
he could not rule it out.
The septuagenarian, who had lectured at Rivers
State University beforing moving to the Niger Delta
University, where he retired, was abducted by 10
gunmen about 9pm on February 23, 2014.
It took about four days before the kidnappers
opened up channel of communication with the
family.
In one of those discussions, they demanded ransom
of N500m from the victim’s family.
The kidnappers were said to be infuriated when the
family members said they could only afford N30m.
The offer was rejected by the kidnappers, allegedly
saying the amount was “unpresidential.”
However, the police asked the family not to pay any
ransom. This was also supported by the Ijaw Youth
Council.
The police later arrested the father of a man
suspected to be the mastermind of the abduction.
The arrest of the mastermind’s father was said to
caused confusion in the captors’ camp.
The police were said to have used the development
to hit them.
A police source, who craved anonymity, said the
arrest of the mastermind’s father weakened the
abductors bargaining edge.
It was learnt that it was in the midst of the
confusion that the police anti-kidnapping squad
closed in on them.
It was further learnt that the kidnappers abandoned
their captive when they sighted the police.
The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State
Command, Mr. Hillary Opara, said Nitabai was
rescued in the early hours of Thursday.
Opara said Nitabai was rescued at Ogboma, off
Odioma in Brass Local Government Area.
He said the kidnappers abandoned their captive
when the police anti-kidnapping operatives closed
in on them (kidnappers) in an operation that took
place between Wednesday night and Thursday
morning.
Opara said, “Since Chief Inengite Nitabai was
kidnapped, we have been working with other
security stakeholders to rescue the victim.
“He was rescued at about 12.05am on Thursday.
We applied professionalism in the way and manner
we handled the operation.
“I thank the Nitabais for heeding the advice of the
police not to pay ransom.
“I also wish to thank my boss in Zone 5 and the
Inspector General of Police for their advice and not
stampeding us.”
The commissioner also commended Governor
Seriake Dickson, who he said, funded many trips
that they undertook in the course of the rescue.
Opara said the police had fortified the Ogbia area,
which had been the hotbed of many kidnappings.