N10 million ransom was paid to kidnappers by memebrs of the Okonjo family to secure the release of their matriarch and wife of the Obi of Ogwuashi-Uku, Professor Mrs Kamene Okonjo, family sources have revealed.
The revelation was made just as the abduction victim was
hurriedly flown to Abuija for safety. Sources within the Okonjo family told our
correspondent that negotiation was made with the kidnappers who eventually
agreed to a N10 million ransom.
The sources said the negotiation and payment was coordinated by the sixth of the seven children of the family identiefied as Onyema. It was gathered that the 82 years old woman was released yesterday upon receipt of the ransom at a designated place in in Benin on Thursday night.
The sources said the negotiation and payment was coordinated by the sixth of the seven children of the family identiefied as Onyema. It was gathered that the 82 years old woman was released yesterday upon receipt of the ransom at a designated place in in Benin on Thursday night.
Saturday Mirror can authoritatively report that the abduction
victim was flown to Abuja through a chartered flight at the airport at Asaba
around 2.30 yesterday, where, it was gathered she could feel more secure and
receive medical attenion in view of the trauma she may have suffered.
However, asked to speak on the payment of ransom to the
abudctors, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told our
correspondent that they were not part of any negotiation.
According to him, the police do not negotiate with hoodlums.
Rather, he said, our correspondent should direct his question to the Okonjo
family.
Also, briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Asaba,
shortly after the release of the queen mother, Aduba, said the sensitive nature
of Kamene’s kidnap made the command to beam its searchlight on any obvious
error or lapses either on the part of the palace guards or the Divisional
Police Headquarters in Ogwashi-Uku.
Aduba stated that the release of the victim involved the
combined efforts of the crack team of policemen deployed by the Inspector-
General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, and the proactiveness of men of the
Special Anti-Crime Squad (SARS).
His words: “The Delta State Police supported by a crack team
from IGP’s Special Task Force on Terrorism, Abuja, consciously and professionally
with due caution collated intelligence on the activities of the hoodlums and
struck their hideouts in Asaba.”
It was gathered that one suspect was killed while four other
members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds during the storming of the
kidnappers’ den.
Source: National Mirror
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