Nkiru: AGN Warns Kidnappers

Following the release of actress Nkiru Sylvanus by her abductors yesterday evening, the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, has warned kidnappers in the country to exclude actors from their targets.

National President of AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, told P.M.NEWS this morning that though they are happy that Nkiru, her PA and Okoli were released unhurt, it is high time the kidnappers shifted their attention from actors.

“I can have a merry Christmas now that they have been released. I’m happy. But it is high time we let the kidnappers understand that actors shouldn’t be their target. We will continue with a lot of public sensitisation as regards this,” Ibinabo stated.

Details of the release of Nkiru were sketchy at press time. A source said that the ransom was paid by the Imo State Government, but claims it was not up to the N100 million the kidnappers demanded initially.

A few days after Nkiru’s kidnap, members of AGN, South-East chapter, held a rally in Imo and other neighbouring states. The rally, coordinated by Barrister Ezenna Agu, AGN’s Vice President, South-East, was attended by actors based in eastern Nigeria.

During the rally, the actors peacefully marched to the Imo State Government House and other strategic places to express displeasure over the kidnap of their colleagues by unknown gunmen.

Nkiru and two other persons; actor Kenneth Okoli and her Personal Assistant, who were kidnapped after leaving a film location in Owerri, Imo State on Saturday night.