Police intensify search for Bayelsa Speaker’s mother

The police in Bayelsa State on Sunday said they were still searching for Betinah, the mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, who was abducted from her home on January 13.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, told our correspondent on the telephone that the police were combing the creeks and other hidden areas in the state.

“We have not seen her. But we have intensified search for her and we believe that very soon, we will rescue her and arrest the kidnappers,” he said.

Betinah, 78, was taken from her home in Korokorosei, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Her kidnappers had on Wednesday established contact with the Benson’s family,  demanding N40m ransom to release her.

The kidnappers were said to have initially demanded N60m ransom.

A source said the kidnappers were ready to slash the ransom if the family expressed willingness to settle them.

But the Speaker said members of the family believed that God would  rescue their mother.

“We believe that God will do his work. God will ensure his daughter is released by the kidnappers. As for her health situation, she did not complain when I spoke with her on Friday,” he said.

Benson had on Thursday said the kidnappers gave him three reasons why they carried out the act.

He said the bandits named the passage of anti-cultism bill by the 24-member Assembly; lack of unity among the lawmakers and his interference in Korokorosei Community Development Committee chairmanship tussle as their reasons for kidnapping his mother.

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The mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Betinah Benson, has been released by her abductors.

Ms. Benson was kidnapped from her residence on January 14.

The State Commissioner of Police, Kings Omire, who confirmed the release to journalists in Yenogoa on Tuesday, said that the 78-years-old woman was released to her family on Monday at Patani, Delta.

Mr. Omire, who declined to give further details of the circumstances that led to the release of the victim, said the woman was brought to his office by family members after her release.

Commenting on the release of his mother, the Speaker, Konbowei Benson, said his mother was released in good condition.

He, however, said that the old woman was taken to the hospital after her release for a thorough medical examination.

Mr. Benson, who said the family, was yet to overcome the psychological trauma experienced during the eight days of their mother’s captivity, expressed gratitude to God for sparing the life of his mother.

He revealed that the kidnappers who had initially maintained a hard line stand during conversations, later shifted ground and agreed to free the old woman.

When asked if the family paid the N40 million as earlier demanded by the kidnappers, the speaker said that no ransom was paid for the release of his mother.

“Ransom, there is nothing like that. These boys, how much do you want to give them that will satisfy them. It was the pressure by the security people

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