By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

OLOMORO—THE traditional ruler of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Aghazi I, yesterday, narrated how four gun-toting kidnappers, who spoke Urhobo and Isoko, stormed his project site, overpowered, blindfolded and whisked him to a forest in Abraka, where they tortured and humiliated him for three days.

The monarch, who was released at 9p.m. Monday night, told Vanguard that his abductors put him in the booth of their car and did not feed him for 48 hours.
He said it was on the third day that they forced four slices of bread and water down his throat.

He said: “That Friday, January 29, members of the Warri branch of the Olomoro Community Development, OCD, paid me homage and I invited chiefs, OCD Vigilante, Iletus and women to my Ikiagbodo residence to enjoy the goat they brought with me.

“After the goat was slaughtered, I went to Olomoro where I am doing a small project; I went to see my bricklayer on the site. While I was expecting the bricklayer, some persons came and attacked me with guns; they were four men with guns.

I struggled with them before they carried me out. I shouted but no help came. Nobody was with me as I was shouting. They were some Isoko and Urhobo boys. They took me in their own vehicle.

“They said the problem is from Olomoro. They said all the money coming to Olomoro, I am the one spending them alone and that I do not share with others, so that is why some persons planned this.

“They said they have been tracing me for almost a month and half. They tortured me with cutlasses, guns and now I find it difficult to move.”

On the location that they took him to, he said: “I did not know the direction we were headed because I was blindfolded. But one of the tires burst on the way.

“They managed it until they brought another vehicle to carry me and they put me in the booth.”