$200,000 ransom paid for my release, singer Gnewzy recounts kidnap experience

Afro-pop singer Gnewzy, has recounted his abduction incident in April 2024.

In an interview with HipTV, Gnewzy revealed that his abductors allegedly dressed in police uniforms and demanded a $200,000 ransom, which was paid for his freedom.

Gnewzy recounted how he was abducted along Eklat road in Ughelli, Delta state, after a radio tour and listening party.

According to him, his manager and brother, Obas9ice, narrowly escaped the kidnapping.

The singer described how his abductors covered his face, provided food, and threatened to harm him if he didn’t cooperate.

Gnewzy believed the kidnappers targeted him to get to his label boss, Dilly Umenyiora.

He said: “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.

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“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.”

Fortunately, Gnewzy was released on May 3, after the ransom was paid.