Kidnapped Nigerian Afro-pop artist, Emuemu Oghala Goodnews, popularly known as Gnewzy, has disclosed the ransom amount paid for his release.
It was earlier reported that Gnewzy was abducted in April 2024 along Eklat Road in Ughelli, Delta State, while his manager and brother, Obas9ice, narrowly escaped.
The kidnappers contacted Dilly Umenyiora, the CEO of his record label, demanding a ransom of $200,000 via email.
Gnewzy was eventually freed on May 3.
During an interview with HipTV, the singer shared his harrowing experience, confirming that $200,000 was indeed paid for his release. He also mentioned that his captors were dressed as police officers.
“They actually paid a ransom of about $200,000. I actually went for a radio tour in Delta State. Which is the state where I came from, Ugheli precisely. After the whole tour, to round it up, it was a Sunday, so I said let me just put up a little listening party.
“And we all got ready for the party, I performed. We left for the apartment that we were in. After a while, my brother said he wanted to pick somebody up. I was like let me go with you.
“We went to where we wanted to pick the person and the person was no longer willing to follow us. On our way home around a U-turn, the men on police uniforms just ran on us and were like come down.
“So we got to one certain point. They stopped and dragged my brother out. And told him they were going to shoot him. He was told to run into the bush or else they would shoot him.
“We were thinking someone was trying to use me to get to my label boss.
“They then covered my face with something. They did not beat me. They gave me food and told me not to do anything funny or else they would fuck me up.”