by ‘Jola Sotubo

The abductors of a Presidential aide’s sister have reduced the ransom to secure her release to 10 million naira as against the 500 million naira earlier demanded.

Augusta Douglas-Ayam, sister to Oronto Douglas, who is the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on research and documentation, was kidnapped last Monday night by 9 men while at her store in the Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

The family of the missing woman has responded to the kidnappers demands and insist that they can only afford to pay 3 million naira as ransom.

Vanguard reports:

Though the whereabouts of Mrs Augusta Douglas-Ayam were unknown, the kidnappers reportedly contacted her husband, Mr. Azib Ayam, at about 2am on Thursday asking for N500m.

The ransom was however reduced to N17m on Friday and later to N10m yesterday after failing to contact the presidential aide.

It was learnt that the kidnappers slashed down the ransom to N10m after discussing with their victim’s husband.

But the troubled Azibayam was said to have told the caller that he could only afford N3million.

The source, who pleaded anonymity said, “For the first time, the kidnappers were calm in their conversation. They didn’t sound furious this time around. They simply asked that we should look for N10million.

”But the woman’s husband begged them to collect N3million. He told them he could only afford N3million. They asked him to increase the money to enable them free his wife.”

The source expressed optimism that their sister could be set free by tomorrow (Monday).

”With the way the conversation is going, we hope that our sister will be released on or before Monday,” he said.