Residents of Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Bayelsa State hometown, were still in shock yesterday over the kidnap of his foster father, Chief Inengite Nitabai.

In a daring move, 10 heavily armed men stormed Nitabai’s expansive compound located before Otuoke Bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road, grabbled their target and fled. No shot was fired.

Nitabai, said to be about 70, is President Jonathan’s first cousin and a compound chief in Jonathan’s Ebele family.

He has been acting like a father to the President since Jonathan’s real biological father died, family sources said.

There was panic in the compound when the bandits stormed the area between 8 and 9pm on Sunday.

The victim, his wife, his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants came.

His wife’s sister, Akinobebh Jin, 37, said Silas, one of Nitabai’s sons, was the first to see the criminals. He raised the alarm.

Jin said: “We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the verandah, doing his assignment while my in-law, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together.

“After some time, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had just entered into the compound. As we sprang onto our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to.

“Shortly after that, five heavily armed men entered into the house, barking. We ran into the kitchen and some of them followed us to the kitchen. They asked us to lie down. They hit my sister on the head and asked her to give them money.

“They also hit my in-law with the butt of their guns and demanded money. They threatened to shoot us. My sister told them she had small money and they followed her to the bedroom where she gave them money,” she said.

Jin said after collecting about N400,000, the gunmen forced Nitabai into a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to the victim and sped off.

“Five of the gunmen entered the compound while five others were hanging around the premises. They locked us inside the house before leaving,” she said.

Jin, who was injured on her finger, was yet to recover from the shock yesterday.

At the compound yesterday, all was calm.

A detachment of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and policemen were guarding the place.

Sympathisers were trooping into the compound. The victim’s wife was said to have gone to the clinic for treatment.

People were seen in groups discussing the incident. A road leading to Otuoke has been cordoned off by soldiers.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Hilary Opara, and JTF Deputy Commander, Commodore Ime Ekpa, have visited the crime scene.

Opara said the police alerted other security agencies about the incident.

Two gunboats have been stationed at Onuebum Waterside. The police are patrolling Edebiri, Kiambiri, Anyama and Ogobiri creeks.

Opara said two suspects had been arrested.

“The other two suspects saw my men and ran away. We know them and we will get them,” he said.

JTF Media Coordinator, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the assailants abandoned the victim’s car at the Onuebum community water front.

Nwachukwu said: “Information available to me is that a certain Chief Nengite Nitabai was abducted by about 10 gunmen yesterday at about 9pm at Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area using his private vehicle.

“The vehicle was later recovered at Onuebum community water front. The Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa, and a team of security agents have visited the crime scene and investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim.”

Two Army Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been stationed in the community.

Soldiers have been guarding President Jonathan’s home and the former hotel belonging to First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

•Adapted from The Nation report. Photo shows President Jonathan.

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