The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command has refuted allusions that ransom was paid to the abductors of three Lebanese businessmen and two Nigerians taken 10 days ago.
Benjamin Hundeyin told Nigeria Info’s Morning Crossfire on Monday that no payment was made to the kidnappers for the release of the five.
The three Lebanese, a boat captain, and his assistant were abducted on Friday 21 June on an inland canal on their way from Apapa to Victoria Island.
The kidnappers demanded a $1.5 million ransom. A video was later posted on social media showing the captives in a traditional monarch’s palace after they were dumped in Orugbo Iddo.
This led to rumors that ransom was paid. Still, Hundeyin maintained that a joint team of marine police and the Nigerian Navy rescued the captives in Epe without any payment.
He added that security officials have been deployed on patrol to prevent more abductions.
