Kidnappers deny seizing N3m from journalists, its N1.6m
Headlines Jul 19, 2010 Share |

Wahab Oba addressing the press yesterday in Umuahia.
By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Contrary to the widely publicised statement credited to the just released Chairman Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Wahab Oba, from kidnappers den that the sum of N3 million was seized from them, the kidnappers were said to have denied the amount saying they only collected about N1.6 million from them.

It will be recalled that Oba on arrival in Lagos from Abia State Sunday evening, told Journalists that a total sum of N3 million was seized from them by the kidnappers.

Oba, who was also taken to the headquarters of the State Security Service SSS at Shangisha, Ikosi- Isheri Local Council Development Area Monday evening, told Vanguard that the kidnappers had put a call across to some people denying ever collecting such amount.

His words: “I was surprised when I saw the report today that a sum of N3 million was seized from us by the kidnappers. I must have been misunderstood, what I meant was that the total value of what the kidnappers seized from us would amount to about N2.5 million or N3 million in total value.

“At least about N1.6 million in cash was seized from us instantly while other properties such as Vehicle, a Serena Space bus, Laptop, camera, tape recorder, personnel effects, wristwatches, among other valuables should worth about N2 million.

“We got N1 million from Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio as a fulfillment of his promise to assist us for a project we are embarking on in Lagos while other money collected from all of us should be about N600,000.

“It is most likely the kidnappers acted based on information because they were getting information on us minute by minute with a threat to kill us anytime.”

Speaking at his residence, Oba, who was looking more refreshed as against Sunday when he looked unkempt, said they got more afraid of their lives when they kept on seeing corpses along the bushes and forest they were made to pass through. But in the end we thank God, because we came out alive, hale and hearty.”

However, men of the state SSS whisked Oba in an unmarked van to their Shangisha office at about 4 pm apparently to ask him information on the N3 million and other essential information concerning their ordeal.

At about 6 pm when Vanguard left Oba’s residence, the SSS were yet to return him back to


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/19/kidnappers-deny-seizing-n3m-from-journalists-its-n1-5m/comment-page-2/#comments

ha ha ha.he coughed and it is for his own good.they told him not to say the truth that ransom was paid.

That guy (Wahab) is economical with the truth, he should be well questioned. He will soon tell us the truth.

Mr Fire:

Wahab Oba. The name sounds familair with financial corruption infested ethnic group. I am sure he would ahve prefered to be kidnapped and at least remain a victim rather than now that he is a culprit of corruption

dont worry yorubas are awakening everyone will go back to their repective ethnic Zones soon- no yorubas will be in the east available for vacation- I mean kidnapping.

Wahab is lucky. Igbo people have been kidnapped in the south west before by Yoruba. You were the first in kidnapping people from other tribes.

Mr Fire:

Wahab is lucky. Igbo people have been kidnapped in the south west before by Yoruba. You were the first in kidnapping people from other tribes.

when did that happened ? Yoruba are more accomodating than ibo,see the way your people infested lagos and other south western states like virus and we aint complaining.

Interesting country - where you have disagreements between kidnapper and the kidnapped on how much was paid as ransom . _ I have never heard that one before.

Hope the Kidnapper did not release a press statement.

so those guys wey get liver to thief four people and keep them hostage for almost a week
no come collect any ransome abi?
na small small bois dem be abi?
nna if una think say we mumu, na una mumu pass.

~Bluetooth:

when did that happened ? Yoruba are more accomodating than ibo,see the way your people infested lagos and other south western states like virus and we aint complaining.

Did you ask where that happened? It happened at Owo at a time igbo touts were still not dreaming of kidnapping

Read here https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-171774.0.html

Yorubas in Igboland apologised on their behalf and that is why Igbo touts did not retaliate then

Yoruba community in Anambra State condemns kidnap of 21 Igbo traders
By Okey Maduforo, Correspondent, Awka

Yoruba community in Anambra State, under the umbrella of Egbe Omo Oduduwa has condemned the alleged kidnap of 21 Igbo traders in Owo, Ondo State, warning that it is a threat on the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria as a nation.

The traders were allegedly kidnapped last Friday by three militant groups known as Palace Boys, Eyin Ogbe Boys and Iloro Youths, who demanded millions of naira as ransom before they would be released.


The militants had last year kidnapped 16 Igbo traders before the latest incident which led to a petition to the state Commissioner of Police Mr. Charles Dawodu, by Ndigbo in the community.


Speaking with Daily Independent in Awka, Anambra State, the chairman of **Egbe Omo Oduduwa** in the area Baba Tunde Adegbenjo, said the incident sends danger signals, adding that there is no state in the country that do not have militants.


"We want to condemn the action and attitude of these militants. We have militants all over the federation and they should consider the fact that if they continue with this other people will revenge and when they do, it becomes crisis everywhere.


"So we are not happy with the attitude of our people back home who gather themselves together and call themselves militants.


"The relation of any of those victims would look for people around to kidnap and those of us outside the Yoruba land or non-indigenes generally would become victims. If this type of thing continues we will have no option but to point to the residence of part of Yoruba land where these activities are taking place.

"The place where it happened is Owo community, so instead of allowing them to go and revenge on Ogwoko man or Akure or Ondo town, we will now point to the residence of the Owo people among us; so that they will go and pick them. This is because things like this spread like wild fire and we will not allow that to happen."


Adegbenjo further noted that security is very important in business interaction and such a thing can affect business between visitors and owners of the land.


"If an Igboman do not feel safe to do business in Yoruba land they will not go there and those of us in Igbo land will not be comfortable and these are the type of incident we experienced some time ago, when the Hausa people had problems with the Igbos and many lives were lost.


"We do not want this type of thing and this is how it starts. So we have to tell our people to stop all these nonsense they are doing. It will not discourage economic development and sound interpersonal relationship in the country."


He urged the Ondo State government to take action quickly to protect the interest of the Igbo in the area as Yoruba and other ethnic groups are being protected in the South East zone; adding that the people at the zone and their respective governments have been friendly and displayed the spirit of brotherhood among visitors and settlers in Igbo land.

http://odili.net/news/source/2008/sep/18/704.html