Kidnappers playing devil’s roles on location

Kenneth Okolie and Nkiru Sylvanus on movie location just days before they were kidnapped

Just when the entertainment industry, especially Nollywood, was beginning to heave a sigh of relief, kidnappers struck again on Saturday, this time, abducting ‘weeping’ actress, Nkiru Sylvanus and 2010 Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie was with her when she was kidnapped.

Kenneth, Nkiru and another yet to be identified passenger left a movie location in Owerri late Saturday night and were heading to another location when gunmen blocked Nkiru's car between Concorde Hotel and Cathedral Road in Owerri, and took all three passengers in the car

The last kidnapping case in the industry was in early 2011, when the family of comic actor, John ‘Mr. Ibu’ Okafor, was kidnapped and later released some days after. The sum of N6m was reportedly given in exchange for Mr. Ibu’s family.

In 2009, the industry witnessed dramatic kidnapping cases, with the abduction of Nkem Owoh and veteran actor, Pete Edochie. Like Sylvanus and Mr. Ibu, both actors were kidnapped in the South East. The actors were later released after the abductors had collected an undisclosed amount. The kidnappers originally asked for N15m and N10m for Owoh and Edochie respectively. Now, the goons have raised the stake as they are demanding a whooping N100m before they can release Sylvanus.

Meanwhile, the Igbo Forum in Nollywood, on Tuesday, urged Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to take a firm action towards rescuing her.

The gunmen, who abducted her, have since reportedly made contact with some officials of the state government and demanded the N100m ransom for the release of the actress, who is also the special assistant to the state governor on Public Affairs.

The state government had on Monday promised a reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

However, the forum’s Chairman, Chief Harris Chuma, said in a statement that the state government ought to take her rescue very seriously.

It also decried the incessant kidnap of South-East figures in the industry, saying, “We are not comfortable with the incessant kidnapping of Nollywood stars in South-East Nigeria. We urge the security operatives in the region to work harder and arrest this deadly scourge; and better still, bring this illegal trade to an end.”

Sylvanus joined the movie industry in 2000, acting in Felix Okoro’s Out of Cage. She is famous for her crying role in A Cry for Help, and has featured in several Nollywood movies.

Kenneth left Lagos two weeks ago to feature in the movie and was due back home sometime this week. The kidnappers are yet to make contact with Kenneth's family. Truly sad what is going on in our country.