Abductors of Okali, the six-year old son of a former Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godknows Powell, have released him after collecting N3.5million from his family.
The kidnappers had initially demanded N50million from the family of their victim but later slashed it to N5million.
Though the father had insisted that he could only afford N2million, a security source said Powell and the kidnappers later settled for N3.5million after prolonged haggling.
The source who pleaded anonymity said Okali was released on Thursday afternoon at an undisclosed location in Owerri, Imo State.
“The parents raced down to the place to pick him. We believe that he is in good health,” he said.
Okali was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen in the early hours of January 1 along Etegwe, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The victim was abducted at about 12.45am while returning from a crossover church service.
He was said to be in the company of his mother when the hoodlums accosted them, isolated and whisked him away to an unknown place.
Tag: Okali
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Kidnappers collect N3.5m ransom for minor
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Kidnappers slash ransom to N5m
Abductors of Okali, the six-year-old son of former Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godknows Powell, has reduced his ransom from N50 million to N5 million.
It was learnt that the father of the victim haggled with the kidnappers and told them that he could only pay N2 million for his son’s freedom.
A security source said the kidnappers insisted on N5 million.
“They are still negotiating and we believe that they will agree on a fee and release the boy,” he said.
Okali was kidnapped by gunmen in the early hours of January 1 at Etegwe, a suburb of Yenagoa.
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Kidnappers slash minor’s ransom to N5m
Abductors of Okali, the six-year old son of the former Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godknows Powell, have reduced his ransom from N50 million to N5million.
It was gathered that the father of the victim haggled with the kidnappers and insisted that he could only pay N2million for his son’s freedom.
A security source who pleaded anonymity said the kidnappers insisted on N5million.
“They are still negotiating and we believe that they will agree on a fee and release the boy who we know is already traumatized,” he said.
Okali was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen in the early hours of January 1 along Etegwe, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital.
It was learnt that the victim was abducted at about 12.45am while returning from a crossover church service.
He was said to be in the company of his mother when the hoodlums accosted them, isolated and whisked him away to an unknown place.
Powell, who served as commissioner in the past administration of Chief Timipre Sylva, was also a former Chairman of Yenagoa local government council when Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was the governor of the state.
The source had earlier said the security agencies were in the dark about the whereabouts of the kidnappers and their victim.
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Kidnappers demand N50m to free six-year old
Abductors of Okali, a six-year old son of former Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godknows Powell, have demanded N50m to set him free.
Okali was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen on January 1 along Etegwe, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital.
It was learnt that the victim was abducted at about 12.45am while returning from a crossover church service.
He was said to be in the company of his mother when the hoodlums accosted them, isolated and whisked him away to an unknown place.
Powell, who served as commissioner in the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva, was also a former Chairman of Yenagoa local government council when Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was the governor of the state.
But a security source said the kidnappers established contact with the family of their victims two days after the incident.
He said the abductors whose whereabouts were still unknown warned the victim’s family against involving security outfits in their negotiations.
The source who pleaded anonymity said the hoodlums insisted on N50m.
But he added: “We know the kidnappers will reduce their ransom. It is their normal practice. They always place high amount of money on their victims only to reduce it later through negotiation.”
On what the security agencies are doing to free the boy, he said: “Cases of kidnapping are delicate and Nigerian security agencies especially the police have remained clueless on how to handle them.
“They always claim that they are on top of the matter, but the fact is that they are as helpless as the victim. They don’t know how to approach the matter because in most cases, their interventions turn tragic.”