ORONTO DOUGLAS: Kidnappers reduce ransom from N500m to N10m

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.