The Nigeria Police have denied any knowledge of a ransom payment before the kidnapped former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Onye Gye-Wado, was released by his kidnappers.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls unknown gunmen had in the early hours of Friday, kidnapped the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State.
The politician was abducted from his home in Gwagi village, Wamba Local Government Area, by gunmen.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the development in a press release, saying the assailants forced their way into Gye-Wado’s home.
The kidnappers made a phone call to the former Deputy Governor’s family, demanding N70 million for his release, but the family negotiated from N2 million to N3.5 million, eventually paying N4 million before he was released.
His release was also confirmed by Ramhan Nansel, the police public relations officer (PPRO) in Nasarawa, but the command spokesperson on Monday said he was unaware of any ransom payment before the former deputy governor was released.
According to Nansel, Gye-Wado was released after the police conducted a “search and rescue” operation.
“We don’t support or encourage payment of ransom. So that is totally out of our knowledge. We don’t know anything about that,” he added in a chat with TheCable.