Gnewzy, a rising Nigerian singer, also known as Emuemu Goodnews, was kidnapped by armed individuals in Delta State.
Beyond Boders gathered that the gunmen who took him after his performance at Monaco nightclub in Ughelli, Delta State, are asking for $200,000 (more than N220 million) as ransom.
Eric Many Records, the label Gnewzy is signed to, released a statement about the incident.
According to the label’s spokesperson, Adedayo Showemimo, the singer was abducted on Monday morning while traveling home from the concert. His manager, Obas9ice, narrowly avoided a similar fate on the same road.
The kidnappers contacted the CEO of Eric Many Records, Dilly Umenyiora, through email, laying out their demands and threatening harm if the ransom is not paid within seven days.
In an interview with Channels TV, Umenyiora expressed his distress over the situation, emphasizing on the complexity of the matter, balancing the urgency of Gnewzy’s safety with financial concerns and contractual obligations.
It was also learned that the police are actively investigating the case, aiming to apprehend the kidnappers.
“Paying the ransom is not even the issue. You know, when you sign an artiste, there are certain monies he is supposed to make for and with the record label as stated in the contract, and I don’t know if the money will be part of it,” said Umenyiora.
Kidnappings for ransom are unfortunately common in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria, despite law enforcement efforts to combat the issue.
Various armed groups carry out these abductions, posing a significant challenge to the safety and security of individuals in the region.
Watch video below for further details:
Eric Many Records Confirms Abduction Of Artiste Gnewzy In Delta, Narrates How Kidnap Took Place pic.twitter.com/SBzgMb8mNM
— Channels Television (@channelstv) April 29, 2024
