By Olawale Gabriel

As the kidnapped Managing Director of Ogba Zoological Garden and Nature Park, Benin City, Andy Ehanire, continues to languish in the den of his captors, his family has cried out pleading with the kidnappers to release their son

In a terse statement, the head of the entire Ehanire family, Chief Harrison I. Ehanire, said the family is worried by the development and that the wife and children of their son are heavily traumatised while his businesses, especially the zoo, are in disarray and suffering from his long absence.

He, therefore, appealed to the kidnappers to set free their son unharmed even as he called on the general public to join the family in praying for the prompt release of the kidnapped operator of Ogba zoo.

Even the Bini monarch is said to be perturbed by this incident as the family is very close to the palace, as the wife of Ehanire is a Bini princess while the family holds one of the high ranking positions in Benin Kingdom.

Although information regarding his kidnap has been scanty with the Nigeria Police saying that he was kidnapped by militants and that they are closing in on them, however, a source close to the family disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding over N1 billion for his release, which has thrown the entire family into a state of confusion as they are said not to have such an amount.