$200k was paid for my release from kidnappers’ den’ — Singer Gnewzy

Kidnapped Nigerian Afro pop singer, Emuemu Oghala Goodnews, popularly known as Gnewzy, has revealed the amount paid for his release.

Recall that Gnewzy was abducted in April 2024, along Eklat road in Ughelli, Delta state. While Obas9ice, his manager and brother narrowly escaped the kidnap.

The abductors contacted Dilly Umenyiora, his record label’s CEO, via mail demanding a $200,000 ransom.

The singer was released on May 3.

However, narrating his ordeal during an interview with HipTV, Gnewzy revealed that $200,000 was paid for his freedom.

He also disclosed that his abductors were dressed in police uniforms.

“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.”