Kidnappers of former Delta commissioner Joan Mrakpor ‘demand’ N1bn ransom

Former Delta commissioner Joan Mrakpor

Kidnappers of former Delta State commissioner for technical education Joan Mrakpor are allegedly asking for N1 billion as ransom.

Mrakpor, a former member of the House of Representatives, was kidnapped on July 30 by gunmen at her church in Asaba, Delta State capital.

The gunmen were said to have taken her away in a speedboat at the River Niger.

Two police orderlies and a point of sale operator were killed in the process.

Sahara Reporters on Thursday quoted a source who said the kidnappers made contact with the victim’s father and asked for N1 billion to free her.

“Yes, the kidnappers have established contact with the family of Mrakpor and they are demanding for a ransom of N1 billion to free her,” the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

Spokesman of Delta State Police Command Bright Edafe said the police were unaware of the kidnappers’ demand.

“There have been so many rumours concerning the incident. The other day a rumour came that she was dead, and now, they are saying she is released. Well, we are not aware of that, not even the N1 billion ransom,” he was quoting by the online newspaper as saying.