Kidnappers of former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt and Chairman of the Rivers State Electoral Commission, Professor Nimi Briggs yesterday evening reduced the ransom they were demanding for his release to N10 million.
They initially asked for N100 million which was reduced to N45 million before the latest downward review.
The kidnappers called the phones of family members of Briggs to make the demand but it is not clear if the family is making any independent arrangements to pay the money and secure his release.
The reduction in the ransom demanded is coming on the heels of the Ijaw Youth Council warning that it would no longer tolerate the continued holding of Briggs when all machinery had been put in motion for his release.
A statement by Deputy President of IYC, Ebelo Jeremiah said that if the captors of Briggs who is a patron of the Council refused to release him forthwith, their action would attract dire consequences. Jeremiah reminded the captors of Brigg that they were holding an Ijaw elder captive and vowed not to concede to any unholy demand being made by the kidnappers.
He advised them to consider �another means of expressing your grievances, if any� instead of holding a hapless nation builder to ransom.
However, there are indications that Briggs may soon regain his freedom as security agencies in the State said they have made �considerable progress� in freeing him.
Although none of the agencies would put a time frame for the man to be freed, THISDAY gathered that both security agencies and some Rivers elders had waded into the effort to free him from his captors.
The academic was forcefully taken from his house in the said university and spirited into the creeks without any trace before the kidnappers called to make monetary demands which initially was N100 million and later reduced to N45 million.
Dec182007