SECURITY agents were battling
all yesterday to find the unknown gunmen who kidnapped Finance Minister Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala’s mother. Prof. Kamene Okonjo, 82, was
kidnapped by eight gunmen who stormed the Ogbe-Ofu palace of the traditional
ruler of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State in two cars shortly before 2pm. The octogenarian Professor of
Medicine is the wife of the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku, Prof Chukwuka
Aninshi Okonjo, who was not in town at the time of the incident.
Delta State police spokesman
Charles Muka said: “Yes, we have got the information on the kidnap. We also
have information that will lead to the arrest of the hoodlums.”
The minister confirmed the
kidnapping of her mother. A statement last night by her Special Adviser Mr.
Paul Nwabuikwu, entitled: “Abduction of Prof. (Mrs) Okonjo” said: “Earlier
today, Professor (Mrs) Kamene Okonjo, wife of Professor Chukuka Okonjo, the Obi
of Ogwashi-Uku and mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and
Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was abducted from her home in
Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
“At this point, it is difficult
to say whether those behind this action are the same people who have made
threats against the Coordinating Minister in the recent past or other elements
with hostile motives.
“No possibility can be ruled
out at this point.
“This is obviously a very
difficult time for the entire Okonjo family. But the family is hopeful of a
positive outcome as it fervently prays for the quick and safe return of the
matriarch.”
The police said it had arrested
a man who allegedly left the compound a few minutes before the incident took
place.
The man was said to have
informed the housemaid that he was in the palace to take the queen mother
somewhere in the town.
It was gathered that the
kidnappers, numbering about 10, were lurking around the palace, until the woman
and her maid came down to serve workers at the gate soft drinks.
An eye witness account said as
soon as she came down from the main building towards the gate, the criminals
moved in from the gate, grabbed her and pushed her into a waiting Golf
Volkswagen car.
“The abductors were heavily
armed. They were about 10. They held up the men fixing the interlocking tiles
and asked them to lie face down. Immediately they saw her, they bundled her
into the waiting Golf car. Another car was parked outside,” the witness said.
One of them went upstairs to
collect the octogenarian’s handbag. The eyewitness said another maid, who saw
the kidnappers upstairs, hid herself in the Kitchen.
The suspected kidnapper
informed his accomplices that there was no one else in the house. They zoomed
off with Mrs Okonjo.
At the palace yesterday, the
atmosphere was gloomy. Sympathisers, including members of the community’s
vigilance group, were discussing the development.
Source: The nation
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