Jonathan’s Foster Father Abducted By Gunmen.....Again

Na wah!

Daredevil gunmen wednesday invaded the sleepy community of Otuoke, the country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan and successfully abducted his first cousin and foster father, Chief Inengite Nitaba, for the second time in three years.

The 72-year-old Nitabai, a prominent chief of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was whisked away from his residence at about 3.30a.m by seven heavily armed men through the Otuoke creek.

Although a detachment of men of the Nigerian Army are stationed in the former president’s home, THISDAY gathered that the gunmen gained access into the old man’s residence which is on the bank of the creek.

Security sources have it that the ease with which the men made good their escape suggests to the Otuoke bridge, off the Onuebum-Otuoke Road where the former president’s home is located.

Nitabai is described as the head of the compound from where the former president hails from.

It was learnt that the septuagenarian, though cousin to the former president, had been acting as the father figure to Jonathan since the death of his (Jonathan’s) biological father.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the abduction.

“On February 17, 2016, at about 0330 hours, seven unknown gunmen abducted Chief Inengite Nitabai at his residence in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area.

“A massive manhunt has been launched by a combined team of Marine Police and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command, to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors. Investigation is ongoing.”

Nitabai was abducted two years ago by 10 armed men and spent about three weeks in the kidnappers’ den before he regained his freedom.

Upon his freedom in March 2014 when he was 70 years old, Nitabai, a former university lecturer had narrated his ordeal on how his abductors fed him with garri and oil for the grueling three weeks he was held captive.

He had also said throughout the period of being held hostage, he was blindfolded.