Madam Beauty Siasia, the kidnapped 72-year-old mother of Nigeria’s Under 23 Coach, Samson Siasia, regained freedom yesterday after 12 days in captivity.
She was abducted on November 16, 2015.
The abductors reportedly abandoned her at about 1.30am on the popular East-West Road, the major gateway linking the South-South to other parts of the country.
The police claimed the kidnappers abandoned her on realizing they were being pursued by police operatives.
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N150 million, then reduced it to N50 million and then N32 million.
It could not be established if any ransom was eventually paid before she was freed by her abductors.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said because of the hot chase by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command, Beauty’s captors abandoned her on the major road and escaped arrest.
The police spokesman did not indicate if ransom was paid.
Butswat said, “Madam Beauty was abandoned by her abductors along the East West Road, at about 0130hrs, November 28, 2015, due to hot pursuit by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Police Command.
“She is hale and hearty and has been reunited with her family.”
He stated that the police had intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Beauty was abducted in the riverside town of Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by unknown gunmen.