TheCable

Abductors of the pregnant wife and four children of Edidem Ubong Assam, the paramount ruler of Esit Eket, on Wednesday asked for a ransom of N100 million.

The victims were abducted in the palace of Akpautong on Friday.

NAN quoted a source close to the monarch’s family as saying the kidnappers have opened up for negotiations.

“There is tension and anxiety in the palace. The kidnappers of the monarch’s pregnant wife and children have demanded N100 million ransom before their release,” the source said.

“The kidnappers are not ready to bargain the price. They issued threats while talking on phone with members of the royal family.”

A family member, Norbert Assam, told NAN that the royal father and the entire family cannot afford such huge amount of money.

“They called the family with the phone number of one of the family members in their captive demanding for N100 million,” he said.

“I wonder where they expect the royal father to get such amount of money to pay.”

Some members of community, however, expressed worry over the health condition of the pregnant woman, the paramount ruler and the children.

The family has appealed to the state government, oil companies operating in the area and the general public to come to their aid.