Indications have emerged that the family of Nkiru Sylvanus, the special assistant on publlic affairs to Imo state governor, paid N8 million ransom before she was released. The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Adisa Bolanta, confirmed this development.
Mr. Bolanta told newsmen in Owerri on Friday that the family defied repeated warnings from the police not to negotiate or pay any ransom to the abductors even as he said the ransom was paid without the knowledge of the police.
The commissioner added that the police had recovered and returned N7 million paid by the family.
Mr. Bolanta said that after we returned the money to the family, they defied our warnings and continued negotiations with the kidnappers.
“They went behind us and paid N8 million to the kidnappers,” he said.
He, however, reassured residents of the state that the fleeing kidnappers would be brought to book.
“We have made some arrests in connection with the case and very soon they will all be apprehended.
“Let me assure the good people of Imo that we will not rest until all forms of criminality has been eradicated from this state.”
