Olaleye Aluko
The family members of the abducted Oniba
of Iba land, Oba Goriola Oseni, say they have been left in the dark
about what efforts the Lagos State Government is making to rescue the
73-year-old monarch.
The family, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on
Thursday, said the government had not called them for any update or
briefing on the extent of investigation 19 days after the kidnap,
alleging that the government was becoming indifferent to the matter.
About 16 gun-wielding militants had, on
Saturday, July 16, stormed Oseni’s palace at about 8.30pm, shooting into
the air, after which they whisked him away in two speedboats.
During the attack, four residents were
shot dead, including a palace guard, identified as Sunday Okanlawon, and
a barber, identified as Rilwan.
Six days after the abduction, the militants were said to have contacted the monarch’s family, demanding N500m.
It was reported on Sunday, July 24, that
the family members pleaded with the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi
Ambode, to assist in raising the ransom and securing their father’s
release.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on
Thursday, one of the monarch’s daughters, who did not want her name in
print, said the family had yet to hear from the state government or the
police.
She said, “Baba (Oseni) has not been
released. We are making efforts, but we do not know what the government
is doing about this. Even if an animal gets missing, you look for it,
let alone the king of a town, who has spent over 40 years on the throne.
“Having contributed much to the growth
of the community and the state in general, his matter should be treated
with more concern. The governor and his officials have not said anything
lately about what is being done on the matter. As a family, we have not
seen any green light from the government; we are in the dark.”
Another relation, who spoke on condition
of anonymity, said the kidnappers were willing to release the monarch
if some money was paid.
He said, “If the state government expedited action on this, Baba should have been released.
“The kidnappers are not saying they will
not release him. If the government does what is necessary, the
abductors will let go of the monarch.
“The state government is not serious
about this. What the government is doing now, we do not really
understand. For now, God is our hope.”
When asked whether the kidnappers had reduced the ransom, the family source said he would not want to make that public.
“The ransom is not the issue now. The
kidnappers are ready to release Baba, but they want to get something. If
one of the foremost rulers in the state has been abducted for 19 days
and at that age, nothing significant has been done, this calls for
serious attention,” he said.
The monarch’s son, Saheed, said he was not willing to comment on the incident.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said on Thursday that the police were still
on a rescue mission.
She said, “Investigation is ongoing. The police are on a rescue operation.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, did not pick the calls by our correspondent.
A text message sent to his phone on the incident had also yet to be replied to as of press time.
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