Daukuro paid $2.5m ransom to secure wife’s release — MEND


Warri—MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed yesterday that former minister of state for energy, King Edmund Daukuro, Mingi XII, the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, paid 2.5 million dollars in cash to the ransom-demanding hostage takers who abducted his wife, Mrs. Gladys Daukuro, to stop them from raping her.


Mrs. Daukuro was released on Friday, three days after her kidnap, last Tuesday, by six armed men at Agudama Street in the D line area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State shortly after the commissioning of her new restaurant and taken to an unknown destination.

Sunday Vanguard could not confirm the payment of the ransom from the family, yesterday. Spokesman of the MEND, Jomo Gbomo, in a press statement, said, “MEND can confirm that the former minister of state for energy, Edmund Dakouru, paid the sum of $2.5million (US Dollars) in cash to the kidnappers of his wife after they threatened to gang-rape her every day.

The security agencies were kept out of the negotiations as the family, like many in the Niger Delta, have lost faith in them”.

But the palace of the Amanyanabo denied last night that any ransom was paid for the release of Mrs. Daukuro. It recalled that the same MEND had vowed not to interfere in the matter, wondering why it was now talking about ransom. “The palace will not stoop so low to pay any ransom.

In any case, it is a sacrilege in Ijaw land for anyone to abduct the king’s wife”, sources told Sunday Vanguard.

Is daukoru now a king?

Now that sum, I find ridiculous!! The way these dudes throw out numbers like say na nothing. Abeg, how does one verify these amounts? lol

Very sad.
Must have been a painful experience for the guy(Daukoru) and his family.
While I wouldn't criticize the Militants for their other struggles,nothing would ever justify the wickedness called kidnapping.

The Federal Government is ignoring all these because it is happening only in the Niger Delta.
I pity Nigeria, because kidnapping would spread to even Abuja and Victoria Island/Ikoyi, if the causes of these problems are not dealt with quickly.

Jarus:

Is daukoru now a king?

With the amount of money the crook stole from NNPC, it will be almost impossible for his village to deny him kingship if he wants it.
Imagine somebody who could comfortably pay $2.5m or more as ransom.

Kobojunkie:

Now that sum, I find ridiculous!! The way these dudes throw out numbers like say na nothing. Abeg, how does one verify these amounts? lol

Looks like its been a while you visited Nigeria last!! That amount, for a lot of Nigerians- Genuine Businessmen,Thieves, Politicians,Investors, Crooks, Contractors and a couple of smart brains- is not an outrageous amount.

People splurge $2m dollars for a plot of land a quarter the size of a football field on a very regular basis in Nigeria!
It's a mystery though how they get all that money!

wetin this man do all him life wey him take get 2.5millions dolares waiting in his bank account in case his wife got kidnapped?

Where Edmundu get $2.5.milli?

Edmund Daukoru was made a king last year in his hometown in Bayelsa State.
Ofcourse, he can afford $2.5m, that's chicken change, for a man that collaborated
with OBJ in siphoning money meant for Nigeria into very deep private pocket.

PapaBrowne:

Looks like its been a while you visited Nigeria last!! That amount, for a lot of Nigerians- Genuine Businessmen,Thieves, Politicians,Investors, Crooks, Contractors and a couple of smart brains- is not an outrageous amount.

People splurge $2m dollars for a plot of land a quarter the size of a football field on a very regular basis in Nigeria!
It's a mystery though how they get all that money!

I would think by now you would understand that I take offence when my outrage is taken to mean naiveté of some sort. It is not about when I was last in the country here. I mean considering the reality of things in that country, I still do not understand where all the money keeps coming from, and why these men are not investigated to ensure the source is legit, up to this day. Even in developed countries, it is hard to find a politician or any person who holds public office that has that amount of money in pocket. Even Obama, Biden etc where not worth one 8th of that amount as senators. Heck, the president’s salary does not even come close to that amount but we allow these men these numbers?

What business man in Nigerian legitimately makes that amount? How many of them do you know of who actually are good business men and can dole out such a huge sum after only a few years in business? I remember having to deal with an old acquaintance telling me that his father, who is a “businessman” in Nigeria, sells salt by the way, is able to afford the lavish lifestyle the boy, and his 3 siblings live here in the US. I immediately got disgusted and walked off.

Stories like these make me wonder if the EFCC is really doing a good job or is only there for show. I really find the situation appalling. Now, when I think of those that kidnapped his wife, how can I blame them at this point? Maybe they know of the source and deemed it worth their taking advantage of by the means which they did. How can I raise my voice against the kidnappers when I am not even sure how this man came about his wealth? This whole is just disgusting.

Edmund . . . how did you get $2.5m?

Now MEND has more money to buy sophisticated weapons to kidnap more high profile govt folks. Good job.

Wow, that's an incredibly large amount of money. With these kind of funds being allocated to MEND, I doubt we'll see them cease their actions any time soon. . . . .

. . . .glad his wife is okay, and was released without harm.

must_a_far:

wetin this man do all him life wey him take get 2.5millions dolares waiting in his bank account in case his wife got kidnapped?

my brother u dey forget say this guy(daukoru) was once an group managing director for NNPC during IBB's regime. he was also jail by IBB for embezzeling tens of millions of dollars from NNPC with some of his managers. then in OBJ govt. he was made minister of state for petroleum and now the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom a king. why should 2.5m dollars be such a big cash to cough out. the BOYS are simply getting thier own share of the national cake. shikena

must_a_far:

wetin this man do all him life wey him take get 2.5millions dolares waiting in his bank account in case his wife got kidnapped?

Daukoru has been around for a while! Former NNPC boss in the 90's! Successful businessman! That is not a lot of money for many Nigerian business men!

PapaBrowne:

Daukoru has been around for a while! Former NNPC boss in the 90's! Successful businessman! That is not a lot of money for many Nigerian business men!

Does being an NNPC boss give one a legal access to millions of dollars in nigeria?
I would also appreciate it if you gave us a little insight of the kind of business this crook does?

PapaBrowne:

Daukoru has been around for a while! Former NNPC boss in the 90's! Successful businessman! That is not a lot of money for many Nigerian business men!

Did i hear you say successful businessman?

What business?!

We are talking of about Naira 325 million. Who you go tell this one wey no go first ask which kin business?

MrCrackles:


Did i hear you say successful businessman?

What business?!

Oil bunkering. Very successful in nigeria

nuzo:

Oil bunkering. Very successful in nigeria

I see!

He shouldnt be labelled a successful businessman then, he should be called a "a successful highway robber and embezzler!

Kobojunkie:

We are talking of about Naira 325 million. Who you go tell this one wey no go first ask which kin business?

Kobo stop that nonsense there, isnt that just the total monthly allocation of my LGA. isnt that what my LGA has to use in fixing roads, pay salary, equip primary health clinics and ensure proper garbage disposal etc etc. plus we can simply re-brand all that and say he was a hardworking businessman.

You guys are funny! Not just funny, but ignorant also!

2.5 millions dollars is a lot of money for the average man worldwide, no doubt! But, it stays a fact that for tens of thousands of Nigerians, many, if not majority of which are genuine businessmen- that is not a lot of money to cough out for a kidnapped wife!

nuzo:

Does being an NNPC boss give one a legal access to millions of dollars in nigeria?
I would also appreciate it if you gave us a little insight of the kind of business this crook does?

No it doesn't give you legal access  to millions of dollars in Nigeria. What it gives you though, is influence and access to previously inaccessible opportunities.
That influence and access is what brings you millions of dollars. And this rule is not limited to Nigeria.
Influence and access to opportunities translates easily to millions of dollars anywhere in the world.!

roflmao!!!

I smell bullManure somewhere around the corner.

PapaBrowne:

You guys are funny! Not just funny, but ignorant also!

2.5 millions dollars is a lot of money for the average man worldwide, no doubt! But, it stays a fact that for tens of thousands of Nigerians, many, if not majority of which are genuine businessmen- that is not a lot of money to cough out for a kidnapped wife!

No it doesn't give you legal access  to millions of dollars in Nigeria. What it gives you though, is influence and access to previously inaccessible opportunities.
That influence and access is what brings you millions of dollars. And this rule is not limited to Nigeria.
Influence and access to opportunities translates easily to millions of dollars anywhere in the world.!

now thats so untrue. two simple words for that[b] 'influence and access'[/b] u're so excited about: insider abuse and graft.

three hundred billion dollars down the drain, we're not done counting yet. am sure daukoru is one of the govt officials on the halliburton/willbros bag lists.

so basically mr daukuro engaged in insider trading?

bawomolo:

so basically mr daukuro engaged in insider trading?

more like insider stealing. but hey, he was also a businessman with no business enterprise whatsoever.

PapaBrowne:

You guys are funny! Not just funny, but ignorant also!

2.5 millions dollars is a lot of money for the average man worldwide, no doubt! But, it stays a fact that for tens of thousands of Nigerians, many, if not majority of which are genuine businessmen- that is not a lot of money to cough out for a kidnapped wife!

No it doesn't give you legal access to millions of dollars in Nigeria. What it gives you though, is influence and access to previously inaccessible opportunities.
That influence and access is what brings you millions of dollars. And this rule is not limited to Nigeria.
Influence and access to opportunities translates easily to millions of dollars anywhere in the world.!

You know what I don’t like? Is asking simple questions only to get someone throw conjectures at me as valid answers! First you state we are funny and ignorant. Then you move on to offer us some silly manufactured facts for answers. Are you sure we are the ignorant ones here? Come on dude!!!

Kobojunkie:

I would think by now you would understand that I take offence when my outrage is taken to mean naiveté of some sort. It is not about when I was last in the country here. I mean considering the reality of things in that country, I still do not understand where all the money keeps coming from, and why these men are not investigated to ensure the source is legit, up to this day. Even in developed countries, it is hard to find a politician or any person who holds public office that has that amount of money in pocket. Even Obama, Biden etc where not worth one 8th of that amount as senators. Heck, the president’s salary does not even come close to that amount but we allow these men these numbers?

What business man in Nigerian legitimately makes that amount? [/b]How many of them do you know of who actually are good business men and can dole out such a huge sum after only a few years in business? [b]I remember having to deal with an old acquaintance telling me that his father, who is a “businessman” in Nigeria, sells salt by the way, is able to afford the lavish lifestyle the boy, and his 3 siblings live here in the US.  I immediately got disgusted and walked off.

Stories like these make me wonder if the EFCC is really doing a good job or is only there for show. I really find the situation appalling. Now, when I think of those that kidnapped his wife, how can I blame them at this point? Maybe they know of the source and deemed it worth their taking advantage of by the means which they did. How can I raise my voice against the kidnappers when I am not even sure how this man came about his wealth? This whole is just disgusting.

Oh, Kobo oh! I wish you knew! This is the exact reason I said you've been out of Nigeria too long. And with the story of the salt-seller, you just exposed deepseated ignorance.(no disrespect intended). It is very expected for commodity traders like salt,sugar, flour, rice, cement to be very wealthy.

Three years ago, I had even worse perceptions than you are having now. Research and raw data have changed my views.

The average trader in rich cities in Nigeria- Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Warri and a few others makes much more money than his working class counterpart  in the US, Europe, ETC.  Been on all sides, so trust me.

I know  lots and lots of small time businessmen men that make sales of more than a million naira daily.
Daukoru, with the access to opportunities garnered as NNPC boss, after retiring over a dozens years back shouldn't have problems with 2.5 million dollars, if small time businessmen make sales of much more than that amount in a year.

Nigerian businesses  spend above 8 million dollars on brand new heavy duty generators weekly! Ask yourself where all that money comes from!
Read this article to understand better:  [url]http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27957&Itemid=42
[/url]

PapaBrowne:

Oh, Kobo oh! I wish you knew! This is the exact reason I said you've been out of Nigeria too long. And with the story of the salt-seller, you just exposed deepseated ignorance.(no disrespect intended). It is very expected for commodity traders like salt,sugar, flour, rice, cement to be very wealthy.

Three years ago, I had even worse perceptions than you are having now. Research and raw data have changed my views.

The average trader in rich cities in Nigeria- Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Warri and a few others makes much more money than his working class counterpart  in the US, Europe, ETC.  Been on all sides, so trust me. CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE PROOF TO BACK UP THIS CLAIM?

I know  lots and lots of small time businessmen men that make sales of more than a million naira daily. IS THIS BEFORE COST IS FACTORED OUT OR AFTER?
Daukoru, with the access to opportunities garnered as NNPC boss, after retiring over a dozens years back shouldn't have problems with 2.5 million dollars, if small time businessmen make sales of much more than that amount in a year. ASSUMPTION.

Nigerian businesses  spend above 8 million dollars on brand new heavy duty generators weekly! Ask yourself where all that money comes from!
Read this article to understand better:  [url]http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27957&Itemid=42
[/url]

I'll leave these for KOBO to respond to

must_a_far:

I'll leave these for KOBO to respond to

I already responded. I am tired of people offering me conjecture as answer to direct questions asked. He assumes he knows Nigeria more than those who currently live in Nigeria and have so far expressed the same outrage. It seems the trend on nairaland and actually in Nigeria to offer up guessed facts when asked simple questions.

@papabrowne, I will wait for you to get around providing proof for claims on where this man's money comes from. Till then, I have nothing else to add to your guess log!

Chineke

_{* Rushes out to buy machine gun to join the kidnapping business*}