Sunday, December 09, 2012

Gunmen Abduct Nigerian Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala's Mother

Gunmen abduct Okonjo-Iweala’s mother

Sunday, 09 December 2012 20:57 From Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri)
Nigerian Guardian

Kill three in Enugu, Borno

Police recover arms cache in Yobe

THERE may be no end yet to the nefarious activities of kidnappers as they on Sunday abducted Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the 82-year old mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, at her Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State residence.

Also, gunmen yesterday unleashed mayhem on residents of Enugu and Maiduguri, killing three persons, including a policeman. And in another development, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State recovered a cache of arms and ammunitions in Kandahar area of Damaturu, the state capital, following a six-hour “cordon and search” operation.

The minister’s mother was abducted at about 1.47p.m by a gang of gun-wielding men, who seized her at the entrance of the palace of her husband, Obi (Prof) Chukwuka Okonjo, located at Ogbe-ofu Quarters in the town.

The kidnappers numbering about 10 had reportedly lurked around the palace and grabbed the queen just as she walked to the gate in company of her maid to offer soft drinks to some labourers. Prof. Kemene Okonjo, a sociologist, retired from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1991.

The source added that the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the family as the husband is said to be out of town. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed the report, saying that the police were on the kidnappers’ trail.

Meanwhile, one of the victims, a member of staff of the Presidency attached to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ikechukwu Alaku, was slain in his Trans-Ekulu residence in Enugu at about 3.00a.m.

The Guardian learnt that Alaku, who hailed from Aku in Igboetiti Council of Enugu State, was slain by three assailants, who stormed his residence in the early hours of yesterday. They were said to have removed nothing from the residence of Alaku, said to be the President General of the Aku Town Union, Enugu State.

The other victim was Jude Ngwu, who hailed from Ugwueke in Abakpa, Nike, Enugu East Council of the State. He was killed on his way home after dropping off a friend, who was said to have visited him.

When contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the killings but said that no arrest had been made, adding that investigations had commenced into the murder.

On the other hand, the slain police officer was on patrol in the Maiduguri suburb when the gunmen in a tricycle ambushed and shot him in the head, before fleeing into Maiduguri Monday Market (MMM).

The arms recovery in Damaturu was disclosed in a statement by the JTF spokesman, Lt. Lazarus Eli, yesterday in Damaturu. The recovered arms, according to the statement, include nine units of Fabric Nationale (FN) rifles and two riot guns.

No comments: