Kidnappers demand N50m for Isoko monarch

Kidnappers of the traditional ruler of Olomoro Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM, Josiah Agbaza I have commenced negotiations with the king’s subjects, demanding a ransom of N50 million, it was learnt yesterday.

The royal father was abducted in the early hours of Friday by gunmen who whisked him away to an unknown destination from where they were said to be making contacts with the distraught subjects on the payment of the said ransom.

A community source said: “The kidnappers have opened their lines and they have been talking with some major stakeholders in the community and making demand for the sum of N50 million for the king to be freed.”

But Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Celestina Kalu, advised the family not to rush to pay ransom, assuring that security operatives have been deplored to comb the area and free the monarch, unhurt.

Kalu urged members of the community to remain calm and go about their legal activities as security agencies were on top of the situation.

It would be recalled that about three months ago, kidnappers abandoned their victim, Dr. Idodo Umeh at Olomoro when the police in collaboration with local vigilante chased the hoodlums and almost caught them.

Meanwhile, the abduction of Agbaza brings to two the number of traditional rulers that have been kidnapped within the last three weeks in the state.