By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa-The kidnappers of Ebeni Ibe of Atisa Kingdom, HRM Godwin Igodo, were reported to have demanded N25 million ransom before releasing him.

The royal father, who is in his 70s, was kidnapped last week from his home at Obogoro, a riverine community close to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and taken to an unknown destination in the creeks.

Though the whereabouts of the royal father remained unknown, a source told Vanguard that the kidnappers established contact with his family 72 hours after his abduction, demanding for N25 million to set him free.

It was gathered that one of the kidnappers, who called the family, spoke in the monarch’s native Epie dialect thereby fuelling suspicion that his abduction might have been engineered by persons from within his kingdom.

The source told our correspondent that youths had intensified the search for the monarch with a view to apprehending the perpetrators of the act, which they described as sacrilegious to the revered royal institution.

A community youth, who pleaded anonymity, said: “What the kidnappers have done is sacrilegious. It is our prayer that they will not go unpunished. We were informed that they (kidnappers) had contacted the family of the monarch, demanding N25 million ransom before they would release him.

“We have commenced the combing of the creek in search of the kidnappers and we will not relent until his is rescued.”

The state police marine had also intensified patrol of the creeks in search of the kidnapped royal father.

Responding to the N25 million ransom being demanded by the kidnappers, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eguavoen Emokpae, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter by the family.

He said the police had commenced investigation into the matter.