By Samson Adeyanju
Former Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Imo State, Samuel Ohiri, revealed that he secured his freedom from kidnappers by paying a ransom, contradicting the claims of the Imo police command.
Ohiri, kidnapped from his residence in the Orodo Mbaitoli Local Government Area on June 6, 2023, spent 13 days in captivity.
While the police asserted they collaborated with security agencies to secure Ohiri’s release, the monarch clarified in a statement to journalists that ransom payment played a crucial role.
He acknowledged the police’s efforts but emphasized that his relationship with God and support from family were instrumental.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Ohiri detailed his abduction, stating that armed men intercepted him upon returning from a visit.
Blindfolded and transported to an undisclosed location, he endured twelve days of captivity in an uncompleted building before being moved elsewhere.
Ohiri described the conditions as hellish, noting that the kidnappers, despite having possible grievances with traditional rulers and politicians, refrained from torturing him on the leader’s orders.
Negotiations ensued between Ohiri’s representatives and the kidnappers, resulting in the payment of two ransoms. After twelve days, he was taken, along with another victim, to Eziama Obiato, and eventually found his way back to Owerri, where his people facilitated his return to the palace.
The monarch’s account sheds light on the complex circumstances surrounding his release, challenging the initial narrative presented by the police.
