18th December, 2012
Following the kidnap of actress Nkiru Sylvanus in Owerri on Saturday night, members of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, South-East chapter, held rallies in Imo State and other neighbouring states today.
The Imo State rally, coordinated by Barrister Ezenna Agu, AGN’s Vice President, South-East, was attended by actors and actresses in the eastern part of the country. During the rally, the artistes marched peacefully to the Imo State Government House and other strategic places to express their grievances over the kidnap of their colleague by unknown gunmen.
General Secretary of the Guild, Abubakar Yakub, told P.M.NEWS on phone that the rallies were aimed at appealing to kidnappers to desist from abducting actors. Nkiru Sylvanus is not the first actor to be kidnapped. Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh and John Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu had been kidnapped at one time or the other.
“The purpose of the rallies is to first of all show our displeasure over the abduction of Nkiru, then to also let the perpetrators of this evil act know that even if they must kidnap, actors shouldn’t be their target. It is unfortunate that while we are busy working, trying to entertain and put smiles on the faces of people, we still end up being the target of kidnappers. It is absurd. There must be a stop to this,” Abubakar stated.
Nkiru, who is also a Special Assistant on Public Relations to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was kidnapped alongside two others between Concorde Hotel and Cathedral Road, Owerri.
The incident occurred very late on Saturday night when the actress, who had a misunderstanding with some crew members on the movie location decided to take her leave in annoyance. “Yes, she had a minor misunderstanding with someone on the location, so she decided to leave. She had barely driven more than 100 metres from the location when the gunmen blocked her car and took her away,” a source in the AGN, who craved anonymity, told P.M.NEWS.
The kidnappers later demanded for N100 million ransom before Nkiru, popularly known for playing ‘weeping’ roles in movies, will be released.
National President AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, told our reporter there are some issues she would not want to disclose on phone, but assured that the Guild was making efforts to see to the release of Nkiru. “She is one of us, so there is definitely no way we would fold our arms when she is in trouble. We are making some moves and I know that she will be freed unhurt by the grace of God. Her safety is very important to us. Let’s keep praying for her,” Ibinabo stated.
—Bayo Adetu