Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Kidnappers make contact with John Mikel Obi's family


Abductors of Michael Obi, father of Super Eagles and Chelsea star John Mikel Obi, have made contact with the family.


Mr Obi, a retired civil servant,was abducted on Friday evening, and has not been seen since. But Tuesday, the family received two calls from the abductors, who first warned them that Obi senior had been taken out of Jos.


"They called mummy [Mikel's mother] and told her that we should not bother looking for Daddy in Jos because he has been taken to Lagos," a family source informed KickOffNigeria.com last night.


According to KickOffNigeria.com, a few hours later a second call came in, giving the family the location of the car which Obi was driving when he went missing.


Tony Obi, the eldest of the Obi children, confirmed that the car was found in Jos, but declined to say where.


"Yes, we have found the car," Tony Obi confirmed Tuesday night but insisted he was not going to say any other thing on the matter. "I can't say anything more for now."


Tony recovered the car in the company of two of his in-laws.


Earlier in the day, Nigeria police authority in Jos had urged residents with information on the disappearance of Obi to contact them as authorities struggled for clues in the kidnapping.


"We are seriously on the lookout for Mr. Michael Obi. We appeal to anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact the security agencies," Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni told AFP.


Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) Football Ambassador, Nwankwo Kanu has joined calls for the swift and unconditional release of the father of Super Eagles' star, Mikel.


Speaking with THISDAYSports yesterday, Kanu said it was very sad that such a thing could happen to a person, who is committed to bringing glory to his fatherland.


"Why will they do such a thing to him (Mikel)? This is a person trying his very best to bring joy to his fellow Nigerians through our number one sport, football only for this to happen to him. It is not fair at all," said Kanu, who recalled that a similar incidence happened to another national team player, Joseph Yobo some years ago.


"It is not a good trend footballers are only doing their jobs which is to make Nigerians happy so why will some people target them?"


Kanu, who said he called Mikel to console him immediately he heard the news, appealed to Nigerians to stop acts that paint the country in bad light.


"The news has been all over the airwaves here (UK) and on the internet, which is not good for the country. God knows what damage such reports are doing to the credibility of our country. How will potential visitors or businessmen feel reading such news about Nigeria? It will definitely frighten them off," he said.


This Day


Related stories: Video - Nigerian Police Continue Hunt For John Mikel Obi's Father


Chelsea star John Mikel Obi's father kidnapped


Kidnapping culture in Nigeria on the rise


Plans to introduce the death penalty for Kidnapping underway in Nigeria



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