By SCM REPORTER
A DESPERATE family has been left “penniless and broken” after heartless kidnappers reneged on a deal to release a kidnapped King.
On New Year’s Eve, as the world prepared to celebrate, terror struck the village of Afin-Ile ire in Nigeria.
A gang of ruthless gunmen stormed the home of the local traditional Ruler, shooting his wife in the arm before snatching the King and his son, the Prince.
For 28 days, the family has lived through a waking nightmare of shifting demands and “blood money” negotiations.
The kidnappers initially demanded a staggering ₦150 million (£70,000). After weeks of terrifying phone calls, the family managed to haggle the price down to ₦20 million (£9,300).
Scraping together every penny while simultaneously paying for the Queen’s emergency surgery for her gunshot wounds, the family handed over the cash, expecting both men to walk free.
But in a sickening twist, the thugs released only the Prince—keeping the King behind bars and demanding a “bonus” ₦16 million (£7,500) for his life.
Richard, the King’s nephew, told The Sun the family is at its breaking point.
”The family is distressed, financially drained, and deeply worried about his safety,” he said. “We raised the money believing both would be released.
Now, they want more. We just want him home.” The King has now been in captivity for nearly a month.
His wife remains in recovery from the brutal shooting, while the family faces the impossible task of raising more funds from a community already bled dry.
