Kidnappers Stole Only N1.6M From Us Not N3M – Lagos NUJ Chairman

LAGOS, July 19, (THEWILL) – The controversy surrounding the monies allegedly stolen from the four Nigerian journalists abducted last week continued today as the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Wahab Oba, who was one of those released on Sunday refuted media reports credited to him that their abductors stole N3 million naira from them.

THEWILL gathered that some of those arrested in connection with the abduction have denied seizing N3 million naira from the journalists.

Mr. Oba who was taken to the State Security Service (SSS) Office in Shangisha, Lagos this evening at about 4.10pm WAT for debriefing on the incident but before then he clarified a statement earlier credited to him.

"I was surprised when I saw the report today that a sum of N3 million was seized from us by the kidnappers. I must have been misunderstood, what I meant was that the total value of what the kidnappers seized from us would amount to about N2.5 million or N3 million in total value.

"At least about N1.6 million in cash was seized from us instantly while other properties such as Vehicle, a Serena Space bus, Laptop, camera, tape recorder, personnel effects, wristwatches, among other valuables should worth about N2 million.

"We got N1 million from Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Godswill Akpabio as a fulfillment of his promise to assist us for a project we are embarking on in Lagos while other money collected from all of us should be about N600, 000.

"It is most likely the kidnappers acted based on information because they were getting information on us minute by minute with a threat to kill us anytime."