Kidnappers of Eni Odili, nephew and aide of former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, have demanded N50 million as ransom for the man who was taken hostage, Sunday, on his way from church service in company of his wife and children.
Also, some suspected armed robbers gunned down a man in his car, yesterday afternoon, in front of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt , after the man�s car had been brought to an abrupt halt and money on him demanded at gunpoint.
Vanguard gathered that the abductors of Eni reached the family of Odili and insisted on making the money available in �good time if� they wanted the man alive, failing which the result would be unpleasant.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, said on phone that the command had established contacts with the kidnappers and �moving closer to setting Eni free from the kidnappers.
We established contacts with them yesterday (Sunday) and that was when they demanded the money. We hope to get him released very soon, but I can assure you, we are not going to encourage ransom payment, it makes these criminals go on in the act�, he said.
Meanwhile, JTF and Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Amphibious Brigade, Port Harcourt, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed shortly after the kidnap, Sunday, that the army, navy, SSS and other security agencies had been �put on red alert”.
According to him, �on hearing the news, the JTF commander, Brig. Gen. Sarkin-Yaki Bello, placed all units on red alert, including those on the high seas, with the view to arresting the culprits.
The SSS and police components of the JTF have promptly swung into action, checking all suspected areas or places in the state with a view to getting him released�, he said.
Relatedly, a man whose identity was unknown was shot dead in front of the Federal High Court by some unknown gunmen who may have mistaken him for another man carrying money.
Witnesses told Vanguard that the �men in the other car suddenly crossed the man and jumped out of their car demanding for money. The man said he did not have money but they disbelieved him and first shot the front tyre.
Insisting on making him part with his money, the gunmen still asked him to release the money now or die and when the man said he did not have any money, they shot him dead�, at blank range and sped off.
At the police headquarters, an officer in the office of the Police PRO said she was �attending a meeting with the commissioner of police and may be late in coming back to the office�.