The police in Owerri, the Imo state capital told reporters during a press briefing yesterday that Nkiru Sylvanus' family paid N8 million to the kidnappers before she was released on Thursday night.


The Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta, said the family did this without the knowledge of the police. He said they had warned the family not to negotiate or deal directly with the kidnappers but they defied their orders


"They defied our warnings and continued negotiations with the kidnappers. They went behind us and paid N8 million to them. We have made some arrests in connection withthe case and very soon they will all be apprehended." He said