Okonjo-Iweala's Mother, 82, Kidnapped

Asaba — Gunmen, yesterday, raised the stake when they abducted the mother of the Minister of Finance, Prof. Okonjo-Iweala, Professor Kamene Okonjo, in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
Okonjo-Iweala's mother, 82, 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 the husband's palace in Ogbe-Ofu quarters by eight gunmen who stormed the palace in two Audi 80 cars.
It was gathered that the kidnappers had easy access to the palace as the policeman expected to be on duty was absent. The kidnappers, 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 whisked 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."
According to a dependable source, the woman who is a medical doctor and a professor was pushed into one of the Audi cars and driven to unknown destination.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said security agents had been drafted to the palace.
A senior police officer in the state, who pleaded anonymity, however, said massive manhunt had commenced to rescue the Queen of Ogwashi-Uku.
Uduaghan asks security agents to smoke out kidnappers
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State 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."
Police on trail of kidnappers
The state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, who spoke to Vanguard 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.