•
Family pleads for access to his drugs
• Northern govs demand his release
• Insurgents await ransom, assure on ex-minister’s safety
Elder
statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Shettima Ali Monguno, remained in
captivity yesterday, 24 hours after he was seized by four gunmen in Maiduguri,
Borno State.
His
abductors, believed to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, were said
to be awaiting ransom from the family of the 92-year-old elder statesman.
Although
Shettima Monguno is reported to be ‘fine’ in captivity, his family pleaded last
night that he should be allowed access to his drugs.
The
kidnappers reportedly phoned the family yesterday with an assurance that “Baba
is safe.”
Governor
Kashim Shettima of Borno State flew into Abuja on Friday evening to brief
President Goodluck Jonathan and Borno stakeholders in Abuja on the situation.
There
were indications that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) and other
intelligence agencies have located where Monguno is being held but most
stakeholders, including the state government, prefer dialogue with the gunmen
to military action.
A
highly-placed source said: “They have not released the elder statesman; they
said they are awaiting ransom. What has made the situation dicey borders on the
fact that they have not named their price. Their silence has created anxiety
for everybody. But they put a call to the family saying ‘Baba is safe.’
“Following
an appeal from Governor Shettima, some eminent clerics and leaders with link to
Boko Haram have been intervening to secure the release of Monguno.”
The
abduction of Monguno has created worries for the state governor.
“The
governor is concerned that given his age, Monguno eats less and takes some food
supplement to make up for his body functioning.
“The
governor appeals to his captors to consider the health conditions applicable to
his age and release him to reunite with his family. Family members are said to
have the same fears expressed by Governor Shettima.”
It is
said that the old man takes different drugs seven times daily based on
physician’s prescription.
A
government source said that Monguno spoke with his family members by phone. He
was said to be psychologically stable and appealed for calm and prayers. He was
quoted as saying “Don’t get worried please. I am fine, just be reciting lahaula
wa la quwata illa billah, (Allah is in control). Nothing to worry about, I am
fine.”
The
remarks was said to have immediately brought some relief to his family,
according to the source.
The
Governor’s Special Adviser, Communications, Alhaji Isa Gusau said: “As
concerted efforts are being made to ensure the safe release of Monguno from
captivity, Governor Shettima yesterday expressed concern over the fact that the
elder statesman may be without some drugs made of food supplements some of
which have remained the elder statesman’s companion in the last twenty years or
more.”
Asked
if the government was sure of the safety of Monguno, another source added: “The
abductors were said to have requested that they needed some ‘alms, to help
their course but didn’t specify any amount.”
“While
he was being forced into a car, his abductors were said to be apologising to
him and insisting they merely needed money and they had to do what they did.”
The
Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday demanded the immediate release
of the elder statesman.
Describing
the action as totally unacceptable, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of
Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo in Minna said that it was sad that an elder
statesman who has served the nation selflessly became the target of kidnappers.
He
said: “It is bad enough that several innocent citizens have been killed by
unknown gunmen in the troubled Borno State in recent times. Adding the fear of
kidnapping of elder statesmen who have served their father land selflessly to
their burden is unbearable’’.
He
called on security agencies to act swiftly to trace and arrest those behind the
abduction to serve as a deterrent to those who may want to now target elder
statesmen, or any Nigerian for that matter.
It
hailed the Borno State Government for the steps taken so far to rescue the
92-year-old from his abductors, while assuring Nigerians that the forum was working
closely with the federal government to tackle the challenges of insecurity
decisively.
Source: The Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment