2nd February, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Police has confirmed that the traditional ruler of Olomoro, HRM Josaih Mukoro, Aghaza 1 who was kidnapped last Friday was seized in his pool office contrary to earlier reports.
The monarch was kidnapped by a four-man gang and whisked away in his Rav 4 SUV.
Latest contact showed that abductors had demanded for a N50 million ransom.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said preliminary investigations indicated that the monarch was not abducted in his palace as was reported in the media.
Kalu said that contrary to the earlier reports that he was abducted from the palace, the monarch was abducted in his pool office a few kilometers away from his palace.
She revealed that the monarch drove himself and was all alone in his pool office when the gunmen swooped on him.
The PPRO however advised monarchs in the state to take preventive measures and desist from making themselves vulnerable to attacks.
“Kings should learn to guard themselves by way of not making themselves vulnerable to attacks,” she said
She said the command was not aware of N50 million ransom being demanded by the gunmen from the monarch’s relatives.”I don’t know; police don’t negotiate with criminals. We are not part of ransom payment or negotiations”, she stated.
However, the President General of the community, Chief Isaac Onome confirmed that it was the king’s phone number that was used by the kidnappers in contacting him for the ransom but was later switched off.
He said all attempts to reach them on same medium as regards negotiations proved abortive.