Family pays N5m ransom to kidnappers, victim released in Kogi

The wife of the owner of Lokoja, Kogi State supermarket, Ugochukwu Okpala, has been released after the family paid N5 million naira as ransom to the kidnappers.

She was kidnapped March 4th, as she made to close shoo for the day.

A source told newsmen that the woman was only released after payment of N5 million ransom.

The source who spoke under the condition of strict anonymity, said other rallied round to raise the ransom, over two weeks after her abduction.

“We remain grateful to God Almighty that she was freed in whole. Now, where do we go from here? This is a woman that was closing shop…in the state capital.

“Everyone rallied round. We had to combine forces to put up money. Five million was paid before they let the woman go. What is all these?

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, who had confirmed the incident said that the Command was informed that “just as Okpala closed for the day and was about entering her car, she was accosted, pushed into their own car and driven off to an unknown destination.”

Aya, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who had added that the kidnappers abandoned Okpala’s car and drove off in their’s, was however yet to confirm the role of the Command, in her release, as at the time of filling this report, as calls made to his mobile handset went unanswered.