Sylva’s uncle dies in kidnappers’ den

Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni, the 87-year-old abducted uncle of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has died in his captors’ den.
He was buried by the kidnappers in a shallow grave at the entrance of Kula community, a border town between Rivers and Bayelsa State.
Though the state’s police command is ready to conduct autopsy on the remains to determine the cause of his death, a suspect apprehended by the police explained how the old man died.
The 27-year-old suspect identified as Nelson disclosed that their victim died in the creeks on August 14.
Nelson, an indigene of Rofogbene in Burutu local government area of Delta State, said the octogenarian died before they collected N5million ransom from his family.
The suspect who claimed to have completed his secondary school said he was coerced by the leader of the gang to join in the criminality.
Identifying their gang leader as Ebino, Nelson said they bought a Turaya phone from Robinson Plaza in Warri, Delta State, which they used to establish contact with their victim’s family and negotiate for ransom.
After the deal, Nelson collected N250,000 as his share of the ransom.
He, however, said the octogenarian would not have died if the gang leader had listened to their earlier pleas to let him go.
Narrating how the old man died, he said: “We begged the leader to release the man because as at that time the family had refused to discuss ransom.
“The old man looked sick. At night, while he was eating, he started choking and slumped. We rushed to his aid but he died before we could help him,” he said.