BIT BY BIT ACCOUNT: How Okonjo-Iweala’s mother was released…N15m ransom paid

After a 10-man kidnap gang seized Professor Mabel Kamene Titi Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, the 82-year-old retired professor of sociology, University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, was released. That was yesterday friday morning, by her kidnappers in Benin City, Edo State, after collecting between N10 to N15 million ransom. A young boy, suspected to have been used by the kidnappers as a “sacrificial lamb” to lead the old woman to safety after the ransom was delivered to them, was been arrested. The security agents said this is to help in their investigations on the identity of the hostage takers.

Professor Kamene Okonjo was shepherded to her Ogwashi-Uku home by security agents, who kept the information secret. Journalists, who mounted siege in the country home of the Okonjos waiting for her to be brought home did not know that she was already inside until about 1.56 pm in the afternoon when they noticed movements in some parts of the compound. That was when they found out that she had been brought back. 

Ironically, unlike December 9 when she was forcefully taken away, this time, she was quietly led from the house, to enter a vehicle which took her the airport in Asaba, evidently on her way to Abuja, to reunite with her daughter, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Time of departure for the chartered flight was precisely at 2.29 pm. Her son, Prince Onyema Okonjo, accompanied her on the flight. Typically as you will expect from our forces, soldiers, police and customs officials prevented photographers from taking pictures throughout.

Owing to the situation at home, her husband and monarch of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo Agbogidi, who travelled 24 hours before the queen mother was abducted, was advised not to return home yet. As it is, security would be beefed up in the palace and security agents, including soldiers would be deployed to the palace before the monarch would return to Ogwashi-Uku, a family source said.

It was then a time for joy and congratulations. Her elated daughter, Minister and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, reportedly called Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to thank him for his immense support towards the release of her mother. It was also gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan was alerted as soon as Prof Okonjo was released. A source said President Jonathan was also happy with the news and commended the governor for a job well done.

Negotiation for Professor Okonjo’s release was carried out by her son, Prince Onyema Okonjo, who spoke various times with the kidnappers on phone between Sunday, December 9, when she was snatched and Friday morning when she was released. Security agents monitored part of the negotiation with the kidnappers, but could not trace their exact location until ransom was paid.

Investigator, checked if the security agents were put in confidence in the payment of ransom to the kidnappers, but it was obvious that they were not, as the ransom was dropped and coolly collected by the hostage takers. Finally, it was gathered by reliable sources that between N10m – N11million ransom paid before the woman was set free.

No one can sincerely be emphatic on the amount paid, but investigators have gathered that, “Between N10 million and N15 million was paid as ransom”. We gathered that it was after the kidnappers satisfied themselves that the Okonjos kept to their side of the bargain that they released the family’s matriarch in Benin City.

-Source: Vanguard