The immediate past Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze Samuel Ohiri, who was recently abducted by unknown gunmen, has disclosed how he was freed by kidnappers after paying ransom (undisclosed) after spending 12 days in their den.
This is against the claims on social media, crediting the monarch’s freedom to the tactical intervention of the Nigerian Police Force operatives.
Speaking at his palace, Ohiri insisted that the police didn’t play any role in his freedom, saying that the organisation should desist from self-praise.
He said, “I wouldn’t have opened up, but I have to act this time to tell the world the truth because of the viral social media report. I don’t like any organization hiding under government cloak to speak lies, deceive the society and self-aggrandize itself.”
According to him, he was kidnapped by those he described as “merciless boys (men),” when he came back to celebrate the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year with his family.
“It was when I was coming back around 8:30 am, after visiting one of my old boys, who is an indigene of my community, that I,, unfortunately, met able-bodied men within my palace, who came out from their vehicle and whisked me into their vehicle after a horrible struggle. I was forced in, but I thank God that nobody was shot because they were with guns. I thank God again, as my cousin’s brother smartly introduced himself to them as my driver and was freed. They blindfolded me and zoomed off to an unknown location.
“They first kept me in an uncompleted building, before I was transferred to another place. I saw hell during the 12 days I spent with my abductors. At first, it looked as if they had some special scores to settle with traditional rulers and politicians, but luckily for me, their leader came to the camp and ordered them not to torture me, that I was a decent man.
“While in the den, my food was water, two raps of gala and sometimes bread with water in the night. That is why I described them as being merciless.”
