Negotiation ongoing with Okonjo-Iweala's mother, Prof Kamene Okonjo's kidnappers; ransom reduced to N200m

Four days after the kidnap of Prof Mabel Kamene Titi Okonjo, 82 –year-old mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, a contact has been established with her kidnappers who have now reduced the ransom being demanded as a pre-condition for her release from $1 billion to N200 million.

According to sources, the reduction in the ransom, followed the negotiation between Onyema, one of the sons of the abducted woman and the kidnappers.

A highly-placed security source confirmed that negotiation had commenced with the kidnappers because of the fragile health of the retired Professor of Sociology, University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, who hail from Obomkpa in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state and pressure from higher quarters.

It was learnt that information on negotiation with the kidnappers was being hoarded even among the key security agencies involved in the operation to secure her release.