The Actors Guild of Nigeria has confirmed their release, in a statement signed by its Director of Communication, Monalisa Chinda Coker.
Monalisa said the kidnappers released the actors because they were “touched by the spirit of God.”
The Guild urged actors to ensure that adequate security was in place while on movie sets.
The statement made available by daily post, read: “This is to inform the public that the kidnapped actors, Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel, have been released, unhurt. The elated National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejezie Rollas, announced their release by the abductors who were touched by the spirit of God to set them free and unharmed.
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“The guild has arranged for medical checks and psychological support for the victims.
“He urged members to be security conscious on and off movie sets and always take precautionary measures on their security at all times.”
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Before the release;
The kidnappers of two Nollywood Actors abducted last week had mocked the Nollywood entertainment industry, particularly the Actors Guide of Nigeria (AGN) for raising a paltry N1.2 million as a ransom for their release.
The actors, Cynthia Okereke, and Clemson Cornel were reported missing on Thursday after it was confirmed by their family members that they didn’t return from the set at Ozalla town, Enugu state.
By Saturday, their abductors contacted their families, demanding $100,000 as ransom.
He said: “While talking to the abductors, we were trying to explain to them that we were putting some funds together, we were contributing. We said that we have about N1.2 million. And they started laughing at us.
They started mocking us and saying, ‘all those your celebrities posting on Instagram, why haven’t they contributed?’
Immediately, it got to me that these people are watching us. It is not the best time to circulate this information on Instagram.”
Mr. Rollas said the bank account of the Enugu chapter of AGN had been dedicated for actors to contribute and raise the ransom.
“I urge all of us to see that we make this contribution because we do not know we will be in this kind of situation again. But we pray to God that none of us will have this kind of experience again,” he added.
Also, popular Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw petitioned FG.
She started a change.org petition, which challenged the Federal Government of Nigeria not just to secure the release of the abducted actors but put an end to insecurity across the nation.
