‘Police performed no function in my launch’ – Monarch recounts ordeal at kidnappers’ den

A conventional ruler in Imo State, South-east Nigeria, has refuted claims that the police within the state rescued him from kidnappers.

The normal ruler, Samuel Ohiri, was kidnapped by some gunmen on 6 January from his palace in Orodo, a neighborhood in Mbaitoli Native Authorities Space of Imo State.

Mr Ohiri, who’s the normal ruler of the Orodo Neighborhood, was launched after 12 days in captivity.

The police within the state had claimed that their operatives rescued the monarch after they raided the abductors’ hideouts in a forest within the state.

However talking to reporters on Friday, Mr Ohiri stated, opposite to the declare, police operatives didn’t rescue him from the hoodlums, TheCable reported.

The monarch stated that though police operatives might need made efforts to rescue him, the abductors solely launched him after his household paid ransom to them.

“Opposite to what the police stated about my launch, there isn’t any hiding the truth that the police (within the state) by no means performed any function,” he stated.

“I really don’t need to converse on this however I’m doing it simply to set the data straight. It was my relationship with God and the assistance from my household those that made it doable. Though, that was after we paid the ransom.”

‘I noticed hell within the kidnappers’ den’

Mr Ohiri, whereas recounting his expertise, stated he noticed “hell” within the palms of the abductors.

“I got here again residence to rejoice Christmas and New Yr with my folks in Obi-Orodo. Then, on the sixth of January, I made a decision to go to one in every of my outdated boys and senior college students of Emmanuel Faculty Secondary College in these days,” he stated.

“After I was coming again after visiting my buddy round 8:30 pm, I met able-bodied males in entrance of my palace gate who got here of their automobile.

“They double-crossed me and compelled me into their automobile. My cousin’s brother neatly launched himself as my driver they usually set him free. They now blindfolded me and zoomed off to an unknown vacation spot.

“I used to be first saved in an uncompleted constructing earlier than I used to be transferred to a different location. Inside the 12 days I spent of their den, I noticed hell.”

Bitterness for conventional rulers, politicians in South-east

Mr Ohiri stated the hoodlums didn’t cover their bitterness for conventional rulers and politicians in Nigeria’s South-east, however that luck smiled on him.

“It regarded a lot as in the event that they (kidnappers) had some scores to settle with the normal rulers and politicians, however fortunately for me, their chief got here out and ordered them to not torture me, that I’m a good man,” he said, suggesting that they might have killed him.

“Negotiations started between my folks and the abductors which ultimately resulted in setting me free after we paid the primary and second ransom.

“They later took me and one other sufferer to Eziama Obiato, a neighborhood in Mbaitoli Native Authorities Space, alongside Owerri-Önitsha Expressway at evening after I spent 12 days of their dungeon,” the monarch stated, with out saying the amount of cash his household paid as ransom.

“And from there I discovered my manner again to Owerri on the Assumpta Cathedral Roundabout the place my folks got here and conveyed me again to my palace.”