Ozekhome, APC chief's abductors demand N250m ransom

Indications emerged on Tuesday that
suspected abductors of Chief Mike
Ozekhome (SAN) and the All Progressives
Congress leader in Edo North, Athanasius
Ogbome, had contacted the relations of
their victims, demanding N250m altogether
as ransom for their release.
There were, however, conflicting reports
regarding the whereabouts of the
kidnapped senior advocate, his driver and
Ogbome.
The victims, who all hail from Edo North,
were abducted between Ehor and Iruekpen,
along the Benin-Auchi road, last Friday.
While reports on social media indicated that
Ozekhome's abductors had contacted his
family and were demanding a ransom of
N150m, giving a three-day ultimatum for
payment, Ozekhome's elder brother, Pius,
was reported to have told a confidant that
no member of the family had been
contacted.
A close friend of Ugbome, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, nevertheless,
confided in our correspondent that his
abductors demanded N100m for his release.
The friend said the abductors called him and
demanded N100m ransom for Ogbome's
release.
He said, "They initiated contact on Sunday
but they have not called again. This man
(Ogbome) has health condition that requires
constant attention.
"He is a good person and not a moneybag;
they should please release him
unconditionally."
Meanwhile youths from Iviukwe,
Ozekhome's community, on Tuesday
protested against his kidnap on major
streets of Benin, demanding his
unconditional release.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting youths,
Issa Adidi, said, "Ozekhome has been on the
side of the masses; he has worked for the
downtrodden.
"We are not giving ultimatum to the
kidnappers, but we are appealing to them
for him to be released unconditionally."
When contacted for developments on the
matter, Edo State Police Public Relations
Officer, Moses Eguavoen, said the police was
"seriously monitoring the situation and we
are still on search."
On the ransom demand, Eguavoen, a Deputy
Superintendent of Police, said the command
was unaware.
Meanwhile, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto
Diocese, Mathew Kukah, has described the
kidnap of the human rights activist as
shocking and "too much punishment for
someone who has sacrificed so much for
the country."
"I beg the abductors, for God's mercies and
for the peace of the souls of those gallant
police officers, who surrendered their lives,
to release the victims," Kukah said in a
statement.
Similarly, human rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele
Aturu, said on Tuesday that Ozekhome
deserved no harm.
Aturu, in a statement, pleaded with the
abductors to release Ozekhome, who he
said, had made significant contributions
towards achieving a decent society.
But the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders
said the abduction was an evidence of the
high rate of insecurity in the country.
Executive Chairman of the coalition, Debo
Adeniran, who lamented the high rate of
insecurity in the country on Tuesday in
Lagos, called for a sober reflection from
Nigerians.
He said, "The state of insecurity in the
country should be a cause for concern to
well-meaning Nigerians. This is an evidence
of security lapses in the country."

source: punch