Entertainment
Did Nkiru Sylvanus Pay Kidnappers N30m?
If feelers reaching The Tide Entertainment Reel are anything to go by, then actress Nkiru Sylvanus, who was released by her abductors last Thursday evening, paid N30 million ransom.
The police said the family paid N8m to the kidnappers.
One of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aides, Oronto Douglas, was said to have paid part of the ransom, while the Imo State Government and Nkiru’s family members also made contributions.
The unknown gunmen, who abducted Nkiru, her Personal Assistant and actor Kenneth Okoli, initially demanded N100 million ransom, but the price was slashed following a protracted negotiation with family representatives of the actress.
A source close to the family of Nkiru squealed to the press that “after some days of negotiations, the kidnappers eventually succumbed to a ransom in the region of N30 million. A lot of friends contributed to that figure.”
Efforts to reach Nkiru, who is currently a Personal Assistant to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, proved abortive. Her MTN mobile number was on answering machine.
Meanwhile, National President of AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, told Nollywood Reel that though they were happy that Nkiru, her PA and Okoli were released unhurt, it was high time the kidnappers left actors alone.
“I can have a merry Christmas now that they have been released. I’m happy. But it is high time we let the kidnappers understood that actors shouldn’t be their target. We will continue with a lot of public sensitisation in this regard,” Ibinabo stated.
A few days after Nkiru’s kidnap, members of AGN, South-East chapter, held a rally in Imo State and other neighbouring states.
The rally, coordinated by Barrister Ezenna Agu, AGN’s Vice President, South-East, was attended by eastern-based actors in the country.
During the rally, the actors peacefully marched to the Imo State Government House and other strategic places to show their grievances over the kidnap of their colleague.
The purpose of the rally, according to the actors, was to show displeasure over the abduction of Nkiru and to also let the perpetrators of this evil act know that even if they must kidnap, actors shouldn’t be their target.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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