Associates of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that the Presidency is apprehensive over the fate of 70-year-old foster father of President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Inengite Nitabai, who has been in the kidnappers den.

Also alleged to be a source of worry to the Presidency is the N500million ransom demanded by the kidnappers for the release of the septuagenarian.

An aide of the president told LEADERSHIP Sunday yesterday that the failure of the security agencies to track down the kidnappers and rescued the victim had heightened anxiety in the State House.

The abductors of Chief Nitabai added more pains to the Ebele family in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State when they placed N500m ransom on him.

The outrageous demand, it was learnt, had unsettled members of Nitabai’s family and the Presidency. The family is however alleged to be doing everything to secure his release.

A security source told our correspondent that the abductors threatened to kill their victim if the family failed to produce the money.

The source who pleaded anonymity said the family had constituted a committee to evaluate the demand, establish negotiations with the abductors and facilitate his release.

He said the kidnappers as usual warned against the involvement of security operatives in the matter.

Already, the Presidency has ordered massive deployment of security personnel in Otuoke and the Niger Delta creeks to free the victim.

The gunmen seized Nitabai on Sunday after collecting N400,000, from his wife.

•Text courtesy LEADERSHIP Sunday. Photo shows President Jonathan.