We Paid N4m Ransom For the Release of Professor Gye-Wado – Family, No Ransom Was Paid—Police

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The former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, that was released by his abduct ProfessorOnje Gye-Wado, has been released days after he was kidnapped.

His family claimed it paid N4m as ransom but the police said none was paid.

Gunmen had kidnapped Gye-Wado in Rinza village, Wamba Local Government Area of the state on Thursday. His adductors demanded N70 million for his release.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramham Nansel, confirmed his release to our correspondent .

“He was released around 9pm  (Sunday), due to sustained pressure from the search and rescue team. No ransom was paid,” he said.

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It was however gathered that his family members paid a ransom of about N4 million to his abductors.

The kidnappers who invaded Gwagi community in Wamba Local Government Area of the state last Friday and abducted Gye-Wado, had earlier placed a ransom of N70 million for his release.

But the family members of the victim pleaded with N2 million due to the unavailability of cash occasioned by the Easter holiday.

However, according to a family source, the insistence of the gunmen to collect a higher amount of money, made the family members of the professor to increase the ransom to about N4 million before he was released.

“They collected the ransom of about N4 million near Mada Hills Secondary School in Akwanga LGA, with N200 recharge card, then he was released on Sunday night near Angwan chiyawa, close to those hills between Akwanga and Nasarawa Eggon LGA.

“After his release, Prof Gye-Wado was taken to the palace of the paramount ruler of Wamba, who is the Oriye Rindre, Justice Lawal Musa Nagogo, where he reunited with other members of his community,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the police said, “On what some people are saying that a ransom was paid for his release, the command is not aware of such, and to the best of my knowledge, no ransom was paid.”

While urging residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without any fear, the PPRO assured of the command’s commitment to chase all criminal elements out of Nasarawa State.

Narrating Gye-Wado’s kidnap last week, a family source had said the kidnappers gained entrance through the fence, broke into the house through his wife’s window and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

“His wife came in for Easter celebration and they broke into the house through her widow and took him away to an unknown destination. We are hoping that the security agencies will make efforts towards rescuing him unhurt,” the source said.

Professor Onje Gye-Wado, who served as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State between 1999 and 2003, had reportedly escaped being kidnapped on several occasions before the sad incident occurred.