The State Commissioner of Police , Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who gave the account of the rescue efforts at a media briefing, said Professor Kamene Okonjo, who is also the Queen Mother of Ogwashi Ukwu Kingdom in Delta State, was rescued through the combined efforts of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force and other security agencies in the state.
Though the kidnappers had allegedly demanded $1billion ransom for the release of the old woman, an amount that was later reduced to N200 million and finally N13million, the police spokesman also confirmed that the woman, who was kidnapped by 10 gunmen at the palace of her husband in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State,was freed without paying any ransom.
According to the police spokesman, “The Delta State Police Command wishes to confirm the release of Her Majesty, (Mrs.) Kanene Okonjo. She was released unhurt in the early hours of today (Friday). It could be recalled that on Sunday 9/12/12, at about 11:00 hours , unknown kidnappers kidnapped the Queen at the revered palace .
“The Delta State Police Command supported by a crack team from IGP’s Special Task Force on Terrorism Abuja, consciously and professionally with due caution, swung into action, bearing in mind the age of the octogenarian, collected intelligence on the activities of the hoodlums and struck at their hideouts in Asaba.
"In the course of effecting the arrest of one of the notorious kingpins, Nwaeze Nwosa, aka Bolaji, he attempted to scale the wall fence and was shot at by the team and he suffered fatal gunshot wounds. “
Aduba disclosed further that "some daring recoveries were also made in the process, thus mounting pressure on the hoodlums who eventually capitulated and hurriedly released her.”
The police spokesman also said that one William Omenma was arrested in the course of the raid.
He confirmed that the arrested kingpin, Nwosa, had been previously arrested and arraigned for the kidnapping and murder of a petroleum magnate, Obilink, in Asaba, the state capital, maintaining that the police have intensified the manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang.
The police spokesman listed the items recovered from the kidnappers to include a ash coloured Golf 3 car with registration number No ASB 697 used in ferrying the octogenarian out of the palace and a white Toyota Bus with registration number No APP64XA.
Also speaking on the freedom of the Queen Mother, spokesperson to the Ogwashi- Uku monarch , Chief Lawrence Okolobi, stated that “Professor Kamene Okonjo was brought from Kwale in Ndokwa Local Government and driven to a border town between Ubulu –Uku and Umunede before she was dropped off from where she picked a commercial motorcycle to the palace."
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah , while speaking on the matter, said the release of Professor Okonjo is “a thing of joy," adding " She is a grandmother and a Queen, a professor and a mother of Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of the Economy."
According to Ogeah, "My prayer is that we shall never see anything like this again and our youths are admonished to retrace their steps away from such hideous evil so as to avoid the wrath of God. We give God all the glory for her safe return and the people of Delta State congratulate Obi Professor Okonjo and his family on the safe return of his beloved wife and matriarch of the family.”
At the Ogwashi Ukwu palace, security was very tight Friday as every visitor was subjected to thorough security checks before being allowed in. None of the security personnel was also willing to volunteer any information.
But in an apparent defiance to instructions given by the palace authorities, a local vigilante who decided to break the ice said: "As we speak, Mama is upstairs resting. You cannot see her now; as a matter of fact, I have been instructed not to speak to the press. The person that will attend to you went out , I will advise you came back."
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