How Okonjo-Iweala’s mother was released…N10m ransom paid


SIX days after a 10-man kidnap gang seized Professor Mabel Kamene Titi Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, the 82-year-old retired professor of sociology, University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, was released, Friday morning, by her kidnappers in Benin City, Edo State, after collecting between N10 to N11 million ransom.

Suspect arrested
A young boy, suspected to have been used by the kidnappers as a “sacrificial lamb” to lead the old woman to safety after the ransom was delivered to them on Saturday, has been arrested by security agents to help in their investigations on the identity of the hostage takers.

Prof Okonjo flown to Abuja
Professor Kamene Okonjo was shepherded to her Ogwashi-Uku home by security agents, who kept the information secret.

Journalists, who mounted siege in the country home of the Okonjos waiting for her to be brought home did not know that she was already inside until about 1.56 pm when they noticed movement in some the compound.

It was only then they found out that she had come back. Unlike December 9 when she was forcefully taken away, she was quietly led, yesterday, from the house, to enter a vehicle for the airport, evidently on her way to Abuja, to reunite with her daughter, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The chartered flight that took her Abuja from Asaba Airport departed at about 2.29 pm. Her son, Onyema, accompanied her. Soldiers, Police and Customs officials prevented photographers from taking pictures throughout.


Prof Kamene Okonjo mother of Minister of Finance, Prof. Okonjo-Iweala
It was gathered that because of the situation at home, her husband and monarch of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo Agbogidi, who travelled 24 hours before the queen mother was abducted, was advised not to return home yet.

As it is, security would be beefed up in the palace and security agents, including soldiers deployed to the palace before the monarch would return to Ogwashi-Uku, a family source confided in Saturday Vanguard.

Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala thank Uduaghan
Her elated daughter, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, reportedly called Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to thank him for his immense support towards the release of her mother.

Saturday Vanguard also gathered President Goodluck Jonathan was alerted as soon as Prof Okonjo was released, Friday morning.

A source said President Jonathan was also happy with the news and commended the governor for a job well done.

Negotiation for Professor Okonjo’s release was carried out by her son, Prince Onyema Okonjo, who spoke various times with the kidnappers on phone between Sunday, December 9, when she was snatched and Friday morning.

Security agents monitored part of the negotiation with the kidnappers, but could not trace their exact location until ransom was paid.

…….
Vanguard confirmed if the security agents were put in confidence in the payment of ransom to the kidnappers, but it was obvious that they were not, as the ransom was dropped and coolly collected by the hostage takers.

Finally, between N10 m – N11 million ransom paid

Our source was not emphatic on the amount paid, but he said, “Between N10 million and N15 million was paid as ransom”
We gathered that it was after the kidnappers satisfied themselves that the Okonjos kept to their side of the bargain that they released the family’s matriarch on Friday morning in Benin City.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/12/how-okonjo-iwealas-mother-was-released-n10m-ransom-paid/

Wished they could have bugged the sack of money with a GPS tracker and monitored as they move along with the bags and finally nabbed by the a crack team of security agents .....

bigtt76: Wished they could have bugged the sack of money with a GPS tracker and monitored as they move along with the bags and finally nabbed by the a crack team of security agents .....

My exact thoughts...Anyway, I'm glad the lady was released unharmed.

*speechless*

but out of WHOSE pocket?

Hmm, this tell us something.

If you or your relation gets kidnapped, better source for the ransom and pay.

Because the police? They're not gonna help you out and fish out the kidnappers.

Gosh, this country, I dunno.

Anoda new story? I thought they said she escaped! Its all lies ,they paid more than that amount

lol. I thought the police stormed a house and freed the old woman.

In a good country, all that's needed are serial numbers of the note and the criminals ll be fished out.

.....and the Police is busy selling stories of how their commandos stormed the kidnappers hideout.

#80million:
*speechless*

but out of WHOSE pocket?

*speechless AGAIN*

I cant believe i came 4th. Zbin a while i entered TOP 5.

I think we haven't heard the last of this IWEALA QUEEN MOTHER story

The money is too small. N11m can not buy a good car.

They should be fished out and punished severely for subjecting an aged mother to such an excruciating experience.

i tink diz d real shit

This is fishy, i am expecting new revelations ...dirty deals as usual

Hahaha....With all the federal connections and mights,,,they Paid...hahaha....they paid...God..they Paid..they paid...they paid..they paid...they paid ..they paid...they paid..they paid...they paid...they paid
*drops phone..panting heavily*

I think the best way to solve this kidnapping wahala is to seriously declare NO MORE PAYMENT OF RANSOMS.
After one or two kidnappings and no ransoms paid, it would be a thing of the past.

wh0 bl!vs d!z sh!tt ?

It's good to know she had been released. This kidnappers self, them no dey see all these top thief government officials kidnap? Abeg make them leave(alone) notable Nigerians who had strive in contributing their own quota in nation building.

Blackteeth: I think the best way to solve this kidnapping wahala is to seriously declare NO MORE PAYMENT OF RANSOMS.
After one or two kidnappings and no ransoms paid, it would be a thing of the past.

Quite a Funny thought.

Declare? You mean like issue a "Press Release"?

SMH*

Well, One can't say nothing good came out of this. Now the kidnappers know the where the real money is at and they will leave the little people with their kobo kobo.

I've always been an advocate of not limiting oneself, so it is with great pleasure I say to the next set of kidnappers - REACH FOR THE STARS. . .AND THE POLITICIANS TOO OF COURSE!!

Gods Speed!!

Tax payers money in action.
Bt dese kidnappers ar professors in kidnapology.

i tought they promised 2 get ha back 24 hourz later

Prof Corruption: The money is too small. N11m can not buy a good car.

They should be fished out and punished severely for subjecting an aged mother to such an excruciating experience.

dis xmas is 4 dis boys o...image 10million

hmmn impotency at its peak, well to Ngozi d money is no big deal

pekelepekele: N11m out of our money . It is we Nigerians that paid the kidnappers out of our tax money not Okonjo Iweala if not she would have wait on the police to rescue her mother after all a woman who gave birth to a woman of 50years old plus is good to die.

It is a mystery that you're still alive with such a high volume of corrosive stupidity trapped within your brain!

SECURITY WATCH

DELTA STATE: COINCIDENCES OF MRS OKONJO'S KIDNAPP AND RELEASE.

DO YOU MAKE ANYTHING OF THIS PUZZLE.?

** Day 1: Ngozi's mother was kidnapped

** Day 2: Kidnappers made contact and requested for $1billion to free her.

** Day 3: GEJ requested N161billion for supplimentary budget. (19 days to end of the year) $1b = N160billion

* *Day 4: Senate approves $1billion for GEJ and Police accepted that they have made contacts with kidnappers as they were demanding for only N200m and not $1bn.

** Day 5: Kidnappers released and dropped the kidnapped Queen by the roadside close to her house as reported by Governor Uduaghan..=-? A very interesting story. Nigeria we hail thee.

Do we now ask, where were the security agencies?

NIGERIA ! is what you make out of it.[color=#006600][/color]

pekelepekele: N11m out of our money . It is we Nigerians that paid the kidnappers out of our tax money not Okonjo Iweala if not she would have wait on the police to rescue her mother after all a woman who gave birth to a woman of 50years old plus is good to die.

sö she does not have her own personal money again? na nigerians dey feed her and family when she dey work for world bank. think before u type

The kidnapping business is obeying the very simple law of demand and supply. As long as there is insecurity, inequality and eXcessive gap between the haves and the havenots in this country, the kidnapping business will keep going on in a bullish trend. Ransom will be paid and the relatives will keep coming up with face saving "we paid no kobo Gospel" well, thank God that by whatever means employed, Madam Professor was ransomed.

so which story do we believe now?was she ransomed or did she escape?

HQ: Hmm, this tell us something.

If you or your relation gets kidnapped, better source for the ransom and pay.

Because the police? They're not gonna help you out and fish out the kidnappers.

Gosh, this country, I dunno.

Thank God she was released. I'm almost tempted to believe there is no hope for this country if they could not apprehend the men.

Besides the rate of kidnapping in Edo state is alarming. It is as if that is the headquarters for kidnappers in the country. Some weeks back armed robbers acted action film at Auchi turning innocent people to Suya in the process.

Security needs to be beefed up in that state fast.

http://.com/2012/12/okonjo-iwealas-mother-was-found-and.html

Like just N10m? .

so which story do we believe now?was she ransomed or did she escape?