By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY — As anxiety over the abduction of human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) heightens, the Chairman of Edo State-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Reparation for Africa, George Enereba, has advised his family and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Athanasius Ugbome, not to accede to the demands of the kidnappers.

The kidnappers had demanded payment of  N150million and N100million respectively as ransom for their release.

Enereba called on Nigerians to resist caving in to such demands, saying it would encourage those behind the act to continue in their heinous trade.

*Ozekhome

The suspected kidnappers, who seized Ozekhome, his driver and Ugbome on Benin-Auchi Road last Friday, reportedly made contacts with relations demanding the ransom payment for them to be released.

Enereba, said:  “I think it (kidnap) is a very sad development in the history of this country, more especially that (Ozekhome) is a legal practitioner and he has been fighting for the rights and freedom of the down-trodden.

“It is a sad moment and it has to do with our economy that is not well planned, I see it that way.

“The issue of ransom being paid is trying to encourage kidnapping. I remember the time the mother of the Minister of Finance, Prof. Okonjo-Iweala, was kidnapped, ransom was paid. If it could be discouraged and there is what is called crack investigative police journalism, these people could be trapped. At the time ransom is being paid, they are being encouraged.”

While reports on social media indicated that Ozekhome’s abductors, on Tuesday, contacted his family and demanded N150million ransom and three days ultimatum for payment, Ozekhome’s elder brother, Pius was reported to have told a confidant that no member of the family had been contacted.