By George Onah & Samuel Oyadongha

Port Harcourt – Abductors of the Bayelsa State traditional ruler, King Owei Ere,  who was seized in Rivers State,    have demanded N25 million ransom, a family member has  said.

Meanwhile, the family has pleaded with the kidnappers of the monarch to set him free.

The family source,  who did not want his name in print told Vanguard, yesterday, that “our concern is that the kidnappers are demanding N25 million before they would let him go. I don’t know where they expect us to get that kind of money from. We spoke to our king and he appeared to be hale and hearty.”

Pleading with King Ere’s abductors to set him free, the family source said, “we are praying to God to touch the heart of the kidnappers to set him free. We do not have the ransom they are demanding.”

Condemning the abduction, Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Theophilus Princewill, said it was “astonishing that monarchs are now targets of kidnappers. What can they get from him, we are all surprised at this.”

But spokesman for the joint Bayelsa and Rivers States Traditional Rulers Council,  King Josua Egbagara,  described the kidnap of the monarch as “an insult to the traditional institution,” in the region.

“This type of thing cannot happen elsewhere. We are appealing to the youths, who kidnapped the king to set him free, so that he can return to his family and kingdom to perform his duties.”

Although Police spokesman, Mr. Ben Uguegbulam, said that the command was “on top of the situation and doing everything possible to rescue the king,” the traditional rulers called on security agencies to re-double their efforts at securing the release of the monarch.

The monarch, who is the Ibenanaowei of Ogboin Clan in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was taken hostage five days ago at Rumuji, Emohua Local Government Area in Rivers.