Madam Ayoko Owoko, the abducted 78-year-old mother of a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency I, Hon. Kate Owoko, has been found dead.

Her body was dumped by the riverside in Amassoma area of the state.

Family sources on Wednesday told SaharaReporters that the corpse of the septuagenarian was found on Tuesday night along the Ogbein-South riverside of Southern Ijaw community of Ammassoma.

The late Owoko was abducted from her home in Ammasoma on April 17 by six armed men and a ransom was demanded.

The negotiation, however, stalled following the alleged refusal of her daughter to pay the ransom. 

The former lawmaker refused to comment on the development.

"Yes, the corpse of our mother was discovered yesterday night. She was abducted on the 17th of April. The incident is unfortunate," a family member told SaharaReporters on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press.

He, however, blamed the death of the kidnap victim on the "refusal" of the lawmaker to pay the ransom.

"The kidnappers demanded a ransom. But she refused to pay. She told the kidnappers that she had no money," the family member said.

The spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Asimin Butswat, confirmed the kidnap victim's death but said the police is still investigating the incident