Adewunmi Samuel Sofomade, the leader of the music band based in Abuja, who was kidnapped along the Lokoja highway, has revealed the amount paid for their release.
Reports indicate that the band leader was abducted in December 2023, along with his crew, while returning from a show in Kogi State. The 13-member group was eventually released after spending several days in captivity.
Recounting the harrowing experience in a recent interview with BBC Yoruba, the band leader, also known as Omoba De Jombo Beats, disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N10 million each. However, during negotiations, they later reduced the amount to N7 million each before releasing the group.
“We were a group of 13 that had gone to perform at a burial ceremony in Itakete Isao, near Isan-Olu in Kogi State. Since Kogi didn’t have an airport, we had to travel by road. We had been there since Thursday and finished performing around 5:30 pm on Friday. We believed we still had time to return to Abuja. The incident occurred shortly after passing Dangote Cement.
“We spent six days with the kidnappers in a dense forest, and those six days felt like six years due to the various challenges we faced. Initially, they demanded N10 million each. We pleaded with their leader, explaining our inability to gather that amount. Eventually, the demand was reduced to N7 million each.
“When we got word that the money was ready, but it was challenging to access cash during the December period, we began searching for available funds. Initially agreeing to the money being converted to dollars, the kidnappers’ leader later changed his mind and insisted on payment in naira.”
