PORT HARCOURT NEWS: Pirates Pick Up N.1B Ransom

N100million ransom’ paid for oil workers' release

Bini Suntek with Ambo's 3 children 

There are indications that a ransom of about N100million was paid to secure the release of four foreign workers of Sea Truck Groups, who were abducted from a work vessel, Jascon 33 off the Coast of Bonny Island in Rivers State, on August 4.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that equivalent of about N100million was paid in various hard currencies as ransom to secure freedom for the Malaysian, a Thai, an Iranian and Indonesian.

Muhammad Khairun Aseh, Chairman of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Youth public complaints bureau, who partook in negotiating the release, said the kidnappers refused to discuss with Nigerian official and held the negotiation under strict condition of secrecy with family members or their representatives.

Nation Evening Express gathered that family members were forced to cave into the demands of the gang when the Nigerian Navy, NNS Pathfinder, which lost two ratings in the August 4 attack, could not unravel the hideout of the criminals.

It was reliably gathered that the release of the expatriates were conveyed to their families and management of STG by the kidnappers.

Revelation about the communication between the criminals and the family affirmed suspicion that ransom was indeed paid to secure freedom for the embattled foreigners.

Bibi Suntek, wife of the Malaysian victim identified as George Lipih Ambo, confirmed negotiations with the pirates. She told a Malaysian news agency that she and her family were told not to discuss details about the case and if her family had received any demands for ransom payment

Similarly, the UMNO chief also kept sealed lips on how much ransom, if any, was paid.

He said: “George's family approached me for help. Before George was released, we requested to speak to him on the phone. He seemed to be in good spirits. Arrangements are being made for George to return home to Malaysia this weekend, pending approval from the Nigerian authorities,” Muhammad Khairun said.

 George Lipih Ambo, a technician, and others were flown to a Lagos hospital, where it was confirmed that he was not suffering from malaria even though he was bitten by mosquitoes during his captivity.

Bibi Suntek said she and her family, including her three sons, were grateful that her husband was safe and unharmed, adding, “My husband called me this (Thursday) morning and said he is unharmed,”

She said there are arrangements for George’s return to Kuala Lumpur, adding, “I will fly to KL to meet him.”

....COURTESY NATION EVENING EXPRESS