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An open letter to the Inspector General
of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, from friends and colleagues of
actors Nkiru Sylvanus and Kenneth Okolie
Dear Sir,
Nollywood Actors'
Kidnap: Please bring our colleagues back home for Christmas
We write to formally
inform your esteemed office of the kidnap, last Sunday, December 16th,
of two of our colleagues, enterprising entertainers, Nkiru Sylvanus and Kenneth
Okolie. The two actors were in Owerri, Imo State, shooting a movie when they
were forcefully abducted by masked gunmen. Some hours later, the mindless
abductors contacted family and friends of Ms Sylvanus especially demanding a
N100m ransom. Up till now, we cannot fathom the rationale behind their kidnap.
And their abductors have advanced none.
Perplexingly, about five
days after this untoward incident, no concerted efforts, as far as we know, are
being made to rescue these hardworking and patriotic Nigerians who sweat and
toil to bring joy into millions of homes and hearts across Nigeria and the
globe. Indeed, it is sad and heartbreaking.
It is even more
worrisome and befuddling considering that these actors’ kidnap is coming just
days after the Police, under your distinguished leadership, valiantly and
commendably went all out for the kidnapped 82-year-old mother of the
coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala. The result, as we all know, is that Prof Kimene Okonjo was
returned home hale and hearty, thanks to the Police, your Police. Are Sylvanus
and Okolie lesser citizens? Are they no longer Nigerians who you should be bothered
about their safety and wellbeing? Don’t they deserve the kind of police
attention that Professor Okonjo got? Does kidnap have another name? Or, has
Nigeria been reduced to George Orwell’s Animal Farm where some animals are more
equal than others?
We, the Friends of
Sylvanus and Okolie, do not think so. We just believe that you probably are
swamped with protecting the lives and property of Nigerians during this
yuletide season or you are not aware how important they also are as law abiding
citizens of this great country.
Sir, Ms Sylvanus is one
of the more popularand proficient role interpreters in Nollywood (Nigeria’s
globally acclaimed movie industry) with a catalogue of seminal movies that have
shored up our rating as a filmmaking nationin the last 15years.Worthy of
mention is that it is because of actors like Sylvanus that the Nigerian movie
industry has achieved so much reverenceand renown globally. Apart from her
acting career, she is also a notable philanthropist who donates as much as she
earns to motherless babies and widows.
Mr. Okolie, on the other
hand, won the Mr. Nigeria contest in 2010 and went on to represent Nigeria at
the Mr. World contest where he was second runner up. In his own way, he has
flown the flag of Nigeria in pride on global stages. He is also an actor and
singer and model. He is willing to do more to further make Nigeria proud but he
can’t do anything in captivity.
It is in the light of
our apparent helplessness that we decided to write you this letter to please
deploy the same audacious expertise and refined gallantry that have become the
hallmark of the Nigeria Police under your watch to bring our colleagues home to
their families and fans. Of course, you know sir, that these young Nigerians
cannot afford anything near the ransom being demanded and we are scared that if
something is not done fast, we fear the worst for Sylvanus and Okolie. That is
why we are counting on you sir.
As we earnestly await
their return, we hope that you would please, use your office to evolve a
winning and redoubtable strategy to protect the Nollywood community from the
increasing incidence of abduction as we have not forgotten so soon that veteran
screen idols Nkem Owoh and Pete Edochie have traveled that tortuous and
unpleasant road before.
We wish to continue
entertaining Nigerians and doing Nigeria proud with our art but we cannot do so
under an atmosphere of pervasive insecurity and vulnerability.
Please, help us and
accept the assurances of our profound regards and promise to continue to be
Proudly Nigeria.
God bless you.
God bless the Nigeria
Police
God bless Nigeria
Signed
Friends of Nkiru
Sylvanus and Kenneth Okolie
Seun oloketuyi
Executive producer Bon Awards
Stella Dimoko Korkus
Journalist
Ify okeke Actress
Halima Abubakar Actress
Gbenga Adeyinka Comedian
Mercy
Aigbe Actress
Laide bakare Actress
Jane odigboh
Actress
Grace Amah Actress
Ogbechi Asiegbu Actress
Bryan okwara
Model and Actor
Gbenro
Elenu
Comedian
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