 |
| Kanene |
OGWASHI-UKU, Delta State was
under siege yesterday as security agents cordoned off the town to begin a
house-to-house operation with a view to rescue the abducted mother of Finance
Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Queen Mother, Prof. Kanene Okonjo, was abducted at the gate of the palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku who is her husband, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo Agbogidi, on Sunday by a gang of 10 gunmen.
Armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have also been deployed to neighbouring town to conduct house-to-house search.
It was learnt that undercover agents have stormed cells of known and suspected kidnappers to ensure that she is rescued alive.
Detectives in neighbouring states have also been put on the alert “to make sure that the Queen Mother is rescued if the kidnappers succeeded in taking her out of Delta State”.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, whose 'peace and security' agenda has come under threat, raced to the palace of the Obi yesterday in company of heavily armed security agents.
The security beef up comprises stern–looking soldiers, policemen and customs officials who, in the early hours of yesterday, took strategic positions at the palace. The soldiers were deployed from the 4th Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Benin, Edo State.
They were led by their Commanding Officer, Brigadier Gen. Obi Umahie, to further provide security to the royal family, pending when the husband of the victim arrives from abroad where he travelled to for medical check-up.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ayo Ikechukwu Aduba, however, said the command has swung into intensive investigations and would not relent on its positive action to get the kidnappers arrested and their victim rescued unhurt, maintaining that, “no cover up and we are on course in our constituted investigation.”
Uduaghan, who paid unscheduled visit to the Council of Chiefs in the palace yesterday, assured the people of the Kingdom that government is on top of the situation.
While urging them to remain calm, he called for useful information that could assist security agencies to track down the hoodlums and lead to the rescue of the Queen Mother.
He said: “I have been in touch with officers of the various law enforcement agencies, and I assure that Prof. Kanene will be safely returned. For the perpetrators of such a despicable crime, they will brought to justice.”
The governor, who described the incident as “unfortunate”, warned against rumour mongering in connection with the abduction, even as First Vice Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Emmanuel Efeizomor, described the incident as a “sad development.”
Obi Efeizomor, who spoke on behalf of his Chairman, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, said it was not only sad but “sacrilegious” for the kidnappers to penetrate the palace and drag out a Queen Mother, maintaining that “the palace which was supposed to be a holy and save ground is no longer safe.”
While he said such development does not present the palace in good light, he prayed that the hand of God should arrest the hearts of the perpetrators to release her unconditionally.
Chief Ogechukwu Nkwos, the Odafe of Ogwashi-Uku, who thanked Uduaghan for his undying effort to ensure the return of the Queen mother, expressed shock at the desperation of the hoodlums.
In Abuja, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had launched a “massive manhunt” for the kidnappers.
"We might not have been able to establish motive, but it is a clear case of kidnap," he said.
Finance Minister's spokesman, Paul Nwabuikwu, said: "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."
Delta leaders yesterday condemned, strongly, the kidnap, describing the abduction as barbaric and unreasonable.
The Delta leaders, in a statement by the Director of Communications of the People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, said they were disgusted at the “Gestapo-like manner” in which the kidnappers went about the incident.
The leaders, who advised the kidnappers to release the minister’s mother immediately, urged the police and other security agents to track the kidnappers.
They praised Uduaghan for setting high standards in sports, security and management of public finances.
“Through sheer intelligence, courage and determination of Governor Uduaghan, Delta State topped the 18th National Sports festival’s medals table with 114 gold, 99 silver and 75 bronze medals. Delta is the best in sports.
“Uduaghan’s leadership goes beyond the incredible speed and cost of providing critical infrastructure, paying salaries, gratuities, and pensions as well as employing large number of qualified people into the civil service based largely on merit and financing the education of thousands in local and foreign universities”.
They also reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to complete all on-going projects in the state within the life span of the administration.
“We thank the good and peace-loving people of the state who have refused to be hoodwinked by the tissues of lies and propaganda being woven and dished out by desperate politicians and their sponsors,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, one of the children of the Queen Mother, Mr Onyema Okonjo, yesterday blamed security lapses for the kidnap of his mother.
Onyema told reporters in Ogwashi-Uku that his mother was kidnapped on Sunday at her residence between noon and 1 p.m. by 10 young men.
"They came in two green Golf cars and it all happened very quickly.
"I think there were definitely some lapses in terms of security. It is not what it should have been, the people that were supposed to have been here were not here.
"This gave them the opportunity to do what they wanted to do, but at the end of the day; we really have to be prayerful.
"I think it is really a sad reflection of where we are as a society," Onyema, the sixth in the line of seven children of the Okonjos, said
He wondered why an octogenarian woman, a grand mother and great grand mother should be kidnapped.
Onyema said that his father, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Okonjo-Iweala, were on their way to Ogwashi-Uku when the incident happened.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in Delta, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, said that this was not the time to trade blames.
He, however, promised that any officer indicted would be punished.
Aduba said that in every case of kidnapping, there was always an insider, adding that investigation was on to unravel the situation and free Kanene unhurt.
"We have been holding meetings with the governor and we have sent out our men to comb every nook and cranny and I am sure we will get her out unhurt," Aduba said.
The Queen Mother, Prof. Kanene Okonjo, was abducted at the gate of the palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku who is her husband, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo Agbogidi, on Sunday by a gang of 10 gunmen.
Armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have also been deployed to neighbouring town to conduct house-to-house search.
It was learnt that undercover agents have stormed cells of known and suspected kidnappers to ensure that she is rescued alive.
Detectives in neighbouring states have also been put on the alert “to make sure that the Queen Mother is rescued if the kidnappers succeeded in taking her out of Delta State”.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, whose 'peace and security' agenda has come under threat, raced to the palace of the Obi yesterday in company of heavily armed security agents.
The security beef up comprises stern–looking soldiers, policemen and customs officials who, in the early hours of yesterday, took strategic positions at the palace. The soldiers were deployed from the 4th Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Benin, Edo State.
They were led by their Commanding Officer, Brigadier Gen. Obi Umahie, to further provide security to the royal family, pending when the husband of the victim arrives from abroad where he travelled to for medical check-up.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ayo Ikechukwu Aduba, however, said the command has swung into intensive investigations and would not relent on its positive action to get the kidnappers arrested and their victim rescued unhurt, maintaining that, “no cover up and we are on course in our constituted investigation.”
Uduaghan, who paid unscheduled visit to the Council of Chiefs in the palace yesterday, assured the people of the Kingdom that government is on top of the situation.
While urging them to remain calm, he called for useful information that could assist security agencies to track down the hoodlums and lead to the rescue of the Queen Mother.
He said: “I have been in touch with officers of the various law enforcement agencies, and I assure that Prof. Kanene will be safely returned. For the perpetrators of such a despicable crime, they will brought to justice.”
The governor, who described the incident as “unfortunate”, warned against rumour mongering in connection with the abduction, even as First Vice Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Emmanuel Efeizomor, described the incident as a “sad development.”
Obi Efeizomor, who spoke on behalf of his Chairman, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, said it was not only sad but “sacrilegious” for the kidnappers to penetrate the palace and drag out a Queen Mother, maintaining that “the palace which was supposed to be a holy and save ground is no longer safe.”
While he said such development does not present the palace in good light, he prayed that the hand of God should arrest the hearts of the perpetrators to release her unconditionally.
Chief Ogechukwu Nkwos, the Odafe of Ogwashi-Uku, who thanked Uduaghan for his undying effort to ensure the return of the Queen mother, expressed shock at the desperation of the hoodlums.
In Abuja, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had launched a “massive manhunt” for the kidnappers.
"We might not have been able to establish motive, but it is a clear case of kidnap," he said.
Finance Minister's spokesman, Paul Nwabuikwu, said: "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."
Delta leaders yesterday condemned, strongly, the kidnap, describing the abduction as barbaric and unreasonable.
The Delta leaders, in a statement by the Director of Communications of the People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, said they were disgusted at the “Gestapo-like manner” in which the kidnappers went about the incident.
The leaders, who advised the kidnappers to release the minister’s mother immediately, urged the police and other security agents to track the kidnappers.
They praised Uduaghan for setting high standards in sports, security and management of public finances.
“Through sheer intelligence, courage and determination of Governor Uduaghan, Delta State topped the 18th National Sports festival’s medals table with 114 gold, 99 silver and 75 bronze medals. Delta is the best in sports.
“Uduaghan’s leadership goes beyond the incredible speed and cost of providing critical infrastructure, paying salaries, gratuities, and pensions as well as employing large number of qualified people into the civil service based largely on merit and financing the education of thousands in local and foreign universities”.
They also reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to complete all on-going projects in the state within the life span of the administration.
“We thank the good and peace-loving people of the state who have refused to be hoodwinked by the tissues of lies and propaganda being woven and dished out by desperate politicians and their sponsors,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, one of the children of the Queen Mother, Mr Onyema Okonjo, yesterday blamed security lapses for the kidnap of his mother.
Onyema told reporters in Ogwashi-Uku that his mother was kidnapped on Sunday at her residence between noon and 1 p.m. by 10 young men.
"They came in two green Golf cars and it all happened very quickly.
"I think there were definitely some lapses in terms of security. It is not what it should have been, the people that were supposed to have been here were not here.
"This gave them the opportunity to do what they wanted to do, but at the end of the day; we really have to be prayerful.
"I think it is really a sad reflection of where we are as a society," Onyema, the sixth in the line of seven children of the Okonjos, said
He wondered why an octogenarian woman, a grand mother and great grand mother should be kidnapped.
Onyema said that his father, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Okonjo-Iweala, were on their way to Ogwashi-Uku when the incident happened.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in Delta, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, said that this was not the time to trade blames.
He, however, promised that any officer indicted would be punished.
Aduba said that in every case of kidnapping, there was always an insider, adding that investigation was on to unravel the situation and free Kanene unhurt.
"We have been holding meetings with the governor and we have sent out our men to comb every nook and cranny and I am sure we will get her out unhurt," Aduba said.
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