Monarch Admits Paying $0.23m Ransom to Militants

In a first admission to ransom payment, HRH Eze Francis Amadi, the paramount ruler of Iriebe Oro Esara, Evo Kingdom of Rivers state, whose three-year old, Samuel Amadi, was kidnapped last month, by militants has revealed he paid a ransom of N3 million naira before the toddler was released to him. At a press conference organised by the Niger Delta Peace Movement (NDPM) yesterday, Amadi disclosed that after his son was taken, the militants initially demanded a ransom of 50 million. Ge said the ransom came down to N5 million, then later jerked it up to N8million and threatened to kill the boy if the ransom was not paid. They later agreed to a sum of N3million for the young Amadi to be released.

Since the kidnap for ransom scenario started blossoming in the region, authorities and oil companies concerned have constantly denied paying any money to anybody before securing release of abductees. The admission by the traditional ruler contradicts an earlier claim that no ransom was paid to anyone to secure the release of the boy. He had stated then that he only worked closely with the State Security Service (SSS) and the boy was released because of the heat on the militants.

However, the tune of the royal father at the press conference was different when he said he did not negotiate with the kidnappers but only told them to keep the boy (as long as he is being fed) because he, the father would not pay any ransom. He said it was the pressure put on him by the boy’s mother to “do something” that made him call his bankers and the sum of three million exchanged hands. After the payment, the boy was dropped off at Choba area by Willbros from where Amadi sent someone to bring him back to his relieved mother. The toddler was, according to the monarch, in good condition, having been “well treated” by his abductors.

Apparently, the royal father had gotten over the trauma of the whole saga because he could not confirm to THISDAY the exact dates of the incident. He only remembered it “was sometime in mid- July”. He told newsmen that the boy is doing well in spite of the whole incident. He decried the hostage taking situation in the Niger Delta, saying the impact can only be felt when a person has been directly affected. To this end, he is the Vice president of the NDPM, having been motivated by the kidnap of his son. The three-year old prince was taken hostage on July 12 when he was being driven to school in his father’s Mercedes Benz Jeep, but was released the second day. The father had gotten his driver and one Akabueze arrested because they were suspected to be accomplices in the whole drama. The two have since been released.

Young Amadi who was snatched exactly a week after three-year-old Margaret Hill was kidnapped in similar circumstances in Port Harcourt became the fourth child to be kidnapped by militants in the Niger Delta but the third Nigerian to be so captured by gunmen in Rivers State capital city. Michael Stewart was the fi rst, Margret Hill, second and then Samuel Amadi, all minors who have had a taste of the kidnap experience.