Gunmen yesterday abducted the mother of the Minister of Finance, Prof. Okonjo-Iweala, Professor Kamene Okonjo, in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
The 82-year-old mother of the minister, who is the wife of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Professor Chukwuka Aninshi Okonjo Agbogidi, was kidnapped yesterday at about 1:30 pm at her husband’s palace in Ogbe-Ofu quarters by eight gunmen who stormed the palace in two Audi 80 cars.
The kidnappers it was learnt had easy access to the palace as the policeman expected to be on duty was absent. They therefore held all the workers carrying out renovation work at gunpoint. One of the suspects was said to have gone upstairs and picked the bag of the Obi’s wife while the woman, who was sitting under a tree after serving the workers some soft drinks, was taken away.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Mr Charles Muka, in his reaction said: “Yes, we (police) have got the information on the kidnap and we have also got information that will lead to the arrest of the hoodlums.”
Sources say the woman who is a medical doctor and a professor was pushed into one of the Audi cars and driven to unknown destination.
Reacting to the abduction, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged the police and other security agencies to track the kidnappers and free Okonjo-Iweala’s mother within 24 hours.
A source said: “The governor fumed when the kidnap was reported to him and said the boys must be tracked down wherever they are hiding at all cost.”
Speaking to newsmen, the state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah described the kidnap as “very unfortunate.” He said he had spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, and it was clear that the police were on top of the situation.
“I had just spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, and he assured that the police would get the kidnappers.
