Abducted Lagos monarch finally regains freedom

Oniba of Iba community in Lagos, Oba Goriola Oseni , the abducted Lagos monarch, regained freedom from his captors on Saturday.

The 74-year-old Oba was kidnapped on Saturday July 16 and stayed three weeks in captivity of his captors before he was finally released.

Dolapo Badmos, Lagos state command Police Public Relations Officer, reportedly confirmed his release, saying that he was rescued Saturday evening.

Also, one of the monarch’s sons, Kabiru Oseni, authenticated the story of his release but said his father came in through a jetty in the area.

Oseni said, “He came in around 7pm. He just walked into the community. He came in through a jetty.”

Though both Oseni and the police declined giving details into how the monarch was released, it has been gathered that the monarch was released after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

There are strong insinuations that the monarch, who is reported to have worked into the town, would not have done so if he was rescued by the police.

Read also: 3 dead as suspected militants abduct Lagos oba

Nigerian Police are not known to rescue kidnappers without making fanfare of it and being the first to announce the rescue, this two known pattern with Nigerian Police, which was not present in the rescue of the Oba, has fuelled speculations that the kidnappers only let go of him at their own will after the payment of a ransom.

Days after he was kidnapped, his captors had demanded N500m for his release. And the family few days ago accused government of abandoning them in efforts to rescue the monarch.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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