The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the release of the abducted former member of the House of Representatives, Joan Onyemaechi.
Onyemaechi was abuducted on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in her church off DBS Road, Asaba, the Delta State capital, after gunmen killed her police orderly and driver.
A yet-to-be-disclosed huge amount of money was allegedly paid as a ransom before she was released on Friday night.
A source who confirmed the release of the former House of Assembly and House Representatives member, disclosed that former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Delta State government played vital roles towards her release.
“You know initially the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N1billion from the family and the family said they didn’t have such huge amount of money. The family begged for a lesser amount of money and at the end of the day, a compromise was reached and ransom was paid and she was released,” the source stated.
Mrakpor was appointed by former governor Okowa as Director General, the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency.
When contacted on Friday night on the release of Mrakpor, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed her release to SaharaReporters but he however declined further details.
Few days ago, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N1billion as condition for Mrakpor’s release, SaharaReporters learnt.
A trusted source, speaking on condition of anonymity to SaharaReporters, had on Thursday revealed that a connection has been made between the family of the kidnapped former commissioner and her abductors
The source, who was assisting the family in securing her release, disclosed that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of N1 billion to free her.