PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S COUSINS ABDUCTED IN BAYELSA

Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Two maternal cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni, have been abducted by gunmen at Akimpelai, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

According to a report by The Nation's Mike Odiegwu, six unidentified gunmen stormed the community at about 8.30am on Tuesday and abducted the women from their provision stores located along the riverbank.

"A source, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and took them to an unknown place." says the report.

The incident, which occurred few days to a grand reception being organized for President Jonathan on May 29, was said to have devastated the President’s kinsmen.

The source said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President. We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President after the May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of welcoming their brother will be a mirage.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinim, said the gunmen were dressed in military camouflage.

Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said one of the victims, Egbeni, is 35 years old.

“The gunmen were dressed in military camouflage. They went to the provision stores of the victims at the riverside and abducted them into a waiting speedboat,” he said.

He said the marine and anti-kidnapping squad of the police, including the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, had been contacted.