by Hauwa Gambo

Police authorities in Delta have denied a Reuters report that abductors of Professor Kanane Okonjo, mother of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have demanded $1 billion as ransom.The report followed a purported member of the kidnapping gang calling to make the demands

“We have to identify the source of the call. Anybody can make spurious calls and demands,” said Delta Police spokesman, Sergie Ezegam.“We still don’t know the reason for her abduction. What we know is that this is a crime, the woman’s life is in danger and we are making frantic efforts to rescue her.”

It will be recalled that, following her kidnap on Sunday at her husband’s palace in Ogwashi-Uku, the police told journalists that they had information about the kidnappers and a “massive manhunt” for them had begun.