By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Chief Inengite Nitabai, the family head and foster father of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was abducted by seven gunmen yesterday in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Two years ago, he spent 20 days in kidnappers’ den.

Gunmen also abducted Mrs Sarah Aguariavwodo, the mother of former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, at her Ogbe Street, Okpare-Olomu residence, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Mrs Aguariavwodo, who is in her 80s, was whisked her to an unknown location at about 11:30p.m. on Tuesday.

Nitabai

Chief Nitabai, 72, who was a lecturer at Rivers State University of Science and Technology is the head of the family Dr. Jonathan hails from.

Though details of his abduction were sketchy, a security source told Vanguard that the gunmen might have gained access to Chief Nitabai’s residence through the creek, as his house is located beside the creek which is some distance away from a military checkpoint close to Otuoke Bridge, off the Onuebum-Otuoke Road.

It was gathered that the septuagenarian, though cousin to the former President, had been playing a fatherly role to him since the demise of his (Jonathan) biological father.

The development, it was learned, caused heavy security presence in the community.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.

He said: “A massive manhunt has been launched by Marine Police and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors.”

Aguariavwodo

According to a family member of the Aguariavwodos, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “Mama had retired for the night at her apartment when the gunmen struck and demanded that she leave with them.”

The family member said six of the gunmen walked into her apartment and forcefully took her away, with one of them carrying her on the shoulder after she tried resisting them.

The three others, including a lady, waited by a Toyota Picnic car, which was used as the getaway vehicle.

“Insisting on leaving with her, they carried her on the shoulder to the major road as they shot sporadically into the air for about 20minutes to scare people while the operation lasted.”