By our correspondent

Facts emerged yesterday that the traditional ruler of Olomoro, HRM Josaih Mukoro, Aghaza 1 who was kidnapped last Friday was seized in his pool office contrary to early reports.

AIG-Solomon-Arase

The monarch was kidnapped by a four-man gang and whisked away in his Rav 4 jeep but the abductors had demanded for a N50 million ransom.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Suprintendent of Police (DSP),however disclosed yesterday that the royal father was abducted from his pool office, a few distance away from the palace.

She said preliminary investigations indicated that the monarch was not abducted in his palace as was reported in the media.

Kalu told newsmen on phone  that contrary to that he was abducted from the palace, the monarch was abducted in his pool office a few kilometers away from his palace.

She revealed that the monarch drove himself and was all alone in his pool office when the gunmen swooped on him.

“Do you know that the king was kidnapped in his pool office, five kilometres away from the palace! He drove alone and was alone in the office,” she said.

The PPRO howver advised monarchs in the state to take preventive measures desist from making themselves vulnerable to attacks.

“Kings should learn to guard themselves first by way of not making themselves vulnerable to attacks,” she said

She said the command was not aware of N50 million ransom being demanded by the gunmen from the monarch’s relatives.

“I don’t know; police don’t negotiate with criminals. We are not part of ransom payment or negotiations”, she said emphatically.

But the President General of the community, Chief Isaac Onome confirmed that it was the king’s phone number that was used by the kidnappers in contacting him for the ransom but was later switched off.

He said all attempts to reach them on same medium as regards negotiations proved abortive.