We need N500m to survive, kidnappers of Lagos monarch tell family

One week after the kidnap of the Oniba of
Ibaland, Oba Yushau Oseni, his abductors have
demanded N500m for his release, Saturday
PUNCH learnt.
The kidnappers did not fail to offer a reason
for the kidnap.
One of the monarch's sons, Saheed Oseni,
who confirmed that the kidnappers had made
contact, told one of our correspondents that
they said they could not longer make money
from pipeline vandalism.
Saheed called on the state government to rise
to the family's help and rescue their father.
He said, "Even if you sell the whole
community, we can't raise N500m. The men
finally called on Thursday and said they
wanted N500m. They said Baba is a part of
the government and he should be able to raise
that money. They said they had no pipeline to
eat from and so they must survive.
"They said the Yorubas and Hausas stopped
their means of livelihood and they needed to
find another means of survival. All our
pleadings fell on deaf ears. We have conveyed
the update to the state government and we
believe something will be done. We are
seriously concerned about Baba's health.
"We know the government is on top of the
situation and we are hopeful."
Oba Oseni was abducted from his palace on
Saturday, July 16, 2016 around 8.30pm.
The gunmen reportedly numbering about 16
stormed the palace in two speedboats and
killed the palace guard, Sunday Okanlawon.
An unidentified motorcyclist was also killed
while the kidnappers shot at the monarch's
wife, Kuburat, who is still recuperating in a
government hospital.
A woman and her three-month-old baby and a
yet-to-be-identified businessman were also
reportedly abducted by the gunmen.
Nothing was heard from the abductors of the
73-year-old monarch for six days after his
abduction, until Friday, fuelling speculations
about what could have happened to the
monarch.
But Saturday PUNCH learnt that the
monarch's abductors threatened the family to
raise the money as fast as they could, saying
the he was an influential member of the state
government.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the police
were still on the trail of the kidnappers and
would rescue the monarch soon.
"We have clues we are working on. In no
distance time, we are optimistic that the
monarch will be reunited with the family," she
said.