Kidnappers of Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs, have made contact with the family and demanded a ransom of N500 million, which state security advised the family not to pay.
As at yesterday evening, the ransom had been reduced to N200 million, while security men on the case are also working round the clock to secure her release, in line with zero ransom payment principles.
Indications that the family may not pay, despite pressure to part with the money, was shown in the insistence of their oil company, Moni Pulo Spokesperson, Mrs Julia Oku-Jack, that the family has resolved to let security men handle the release.
�Madam has been able to talk with members of the family on phone. Chief has said he is not going to negotiate ransom with the kidnappers. Madam sounded very strong during the brief talk on phone,� Jacks said.
The kidnap has caused a crack among the ranks of Niger Delta youths, as a group called Ijaw Youths Leaders Forum, in a statement signed by Government Ekpumopolo, Ogoriba TimiKarl-Weilhem, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Oyeifo Jonjon and Chris Ekiyo, declared war on the kidnappers.
The Forum also asked the family not to pay any ransom and declared the group, which attacked and killed three naval men at Shell Petroleum Development Company and the kidnappers of Lulu-Briggs persona-non-grata in Ijaw Land.
�The kidnapping of Mrs. S.O.B Lulu Briggs, an Ijaw woman and wife of a respected Ijaw elder and leader of thought on the early hours of February 6, 2008, is immoral and therefore, totally unacceptable. The forum enjoins all Ijaw patriots to assist the family to fish out those who perpetrated this heinous and abominable crime. The family is hereby advised not to pay ransom to any individual or group involved in this dastardly act,” the group said.
Feb82008