Kidnappers reveals they receive N15m to release Iba Monarch

Kidnappers of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni who regained his freedom on Saturday collected N15.1 million as ransom before releasing the monarch.

One of the arrested kidnappers, Isaiah Ododomu disclosed this on Sunday when he was paraded by the Police.

Ododomu who spoke with newsmen disclosed how the Oba was kidnapped.

He said nine of the gang members went to the palace to kidnap the Oba on that fateful day.

He gave the name of those who went to the palace to kidnap the Oba as Toba, Igodo, Mighty, Folly and Sam.

According to him the arrived the Oba’s palace with two AK-47 rifles and three pump action guns which they used during the kidnapping.

Ododomu said he became a kidnapper after government clamped down on oil bunkerers (his former trade).

He disclosed that the kidnappers first collected N12 million ransom and later demanded for another ransom and were given N3.1 million extra, making a total of N15.1 million which they shared among themselves.

“I am a bunkering man, when this government stopped the bunkering business, our leaders formed another group and we started kidnapping to manage ourselves. I am a married man and I don’t have any job to cater for my family. When we started the kidnapping business, whenever they collected N500,000, they will give me N20,000.

Speaking on the arrest of the suspect Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said,” We have always reiterated that it is not about whether ransom was paid or not. If it is about ransom, suspects would not be arrested. And what I would say is that pressure by the Lagos Command, and the special team of the inspector General of Police from Abuja and the combined team paid off and that pressure paid. The most important thing is that Kabiyesi is in his palace.

“As to his state of health, I was with Kabiyesi till about 12 midnight and I can tell you emphatically that Kabiyesi is hale and hearty and he is very strong, and nothing is wrong with him.

“As to whether the state government did something or not, if you see suspects are being paraded, security agencies are apparatus of government. The government has very hard to get Kabiyesi liberated.

“What we want to do is to thank and appreciate the understanding of the family. They have been cooperative with us to get the Kabiyesi out of the hands of his abductors hale and hearty.”