Second Wife of Delta State Lawmaker Abducted... Kidnappers Demand N500m Ransom

Cynthia Michel Diden, the wife of a Delta State House of Assembly member representing Warri North state constituency, has been kidnapped by a notorious gang operating in the state.

Mrs. Diden was kidnapped in Warri on Sunday. Family sources told SR that the kidnappers contacted them and demanded a ransom of N500 million. The figure was later reduced to N200million.

"For now, nobody can give reasons for her kidnapping but we are suspecting that youths not happy with her husband could be behind the act.

"Before now, Cynthia resided in Abuja. But as we talk, we as a family and the security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that she is free unhurt," said a family source.

It would be recalled that in 2009, the same Mr. Diden's eldest wife, Mrs. Mary Diden, Special Adviser to the Governor on women mobilization, was kidnapped in Sapele and later released after an alleged payment of an undisclosed ransom.

State government has deployed its security apparatus, hoping to rescue Cynthia Diden.