Kidnappers who abducted the father of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi contacted his family on Wednesday requesting a N20m ($130,000) ransom for his release, the Police told Reuters.

Police were contacted on Friday after Mikel’s father, Michael, who runs a transport company, failed to return to his home located around Rayfield in Jos.

A spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Apev Jacob, told Reuters that they had found his father’s car abandoned but did not disclose the location.

Jacob gave no further details of how ransom negotiations were progressing and Mikel’s family declined to comment.

Mikel mother also declined giving any details when THE PUNCH correspondent contacted her on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international played in Sunday’s English Premier League season-opening 0-0 draw at Stoke City despite knowing his father was abducted on Friday.

He has publicly pleaded for his safe return.

Mrs. Rose Obi, the mother of Mikel, refuted reports that the kidnappers had contacted the family.

She told our correspondent in an interview in Jos on Wednesday that it was only the car, a Mercedes Benz, that was recovered somewhere around Kwali Falls, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state.

She said, “We have not been contacted and as such we don’t know his present location. As I told you, we have only recovered the car through the assistance of somebody who saw it and reported to us.”

“As it is now we are still expecting a call from the kidnappers, but we are yet to get any.”

Police Commissioner, Dipo Ayeni, had told THE PUNCH he was not aware that the kidnappers had contacted the family. He however confirmed the recovery of the car.

“We are making frantic efforts to get to the root of the matter. We are deploying all our intelligence network and we are working round the clock to ensure that he was rescued,” the Commissioner said.

Our Correspondent reports that family members of kidnapped victims often do not disclose details of dealings with the kidnappers for safety reasons.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108183352393

We are making frantic efforts to get to the root of the matter. We are deploying all our intelligence network and we are working round the clock to ensure that he was rescued,” the Commissioner said.


what kind of network are you negotiating . . . . wap network you call internet abi

abeg make dem give them the money joor

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

thats a few weeks salary of mikel, no big deal to him. jokes apart, this menace of kidnapping, bombing and all must stop for this country to move forward, we are still searching for a leader that will lead us to the promise land. we should all gang up against all forms of crime in this country. DEATH TO ALL KIDNAPPERS OF BOTH HUMANS AND OUR TREASURIES !!!

Mikel had beta pay his due on time before its too late. Na naija paro be dt.

So

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

From the tone of your post, please if you know where Mikel's father is, just let him go. Why tormenting the poor boy, thats his money and he earned it

From the few responses so far, Can one easily conclude that an average naija is a potential kidnapper?
Seems most people want Mikel to pay them off, na wah ooh. Why are we encouraging crime, Please dont tempt some of us ooh

Dont you all watch Hollywood movies and how Cops apprehend kidnappers am sure our 'able' police can do much more

Let Mr Ringtone, oops Mr Ringim send his boys into action at once.

His mother has denied this piece of news.

The mother of Chelsea midfielder, J ohn Mikel Obi, Mrs. Rose Obi, whose husband was kidnapped last Friday, yesterday denied reports that his kidnappers have established contact with the family.

Mrs. Obi who spoke to LEADERSHIP last night on phone said that it was only the car, a Mercedes Benz, that was recovered somewhere around Kwall Falls, in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

She said that, “we have not been contacted and as such we don’t know his present location.

She further stressed that, “as I told you, we have only recovered the car through the assistance of somebody who saw it and reported to us.”

http://www.talkofnaija.com/News/newsdetailsone.aspx?NewsId=C342894C-3AAD-4941-A9A8-ECCB1E3383A5

But there is an element of truth there (d news) after all the nappers will warn u never to tell anyone abt it.

It's an indictment of Nigeria and Nigerians to see people urging Mikel to pay. What does is matter if its a week or even an hours pay to him. Paying  would most probably open is family up as prime kidnapping targets in the future and encourage more outrageous demands. 

If I were Mikel, I'd use however many year's wages it would take to buy the best private army I can get to trace and teach the kidnappers a lesson and a half.

Urging Mikel to pay? . . . I'm surprise at how
we seem to show sympathy to kidnappers.

Ds is becoming very interestng, for d safety of his dad,no price is 2 much bt he shd jst be careful,

Ds is becoming very interestng, for d safety of his dad,no price is 2 much bt he shd jst be careful,

A lesson and a half!  
. . . If I were Mikel, I'd simply contact Musiwa aka Becomrich aka Mapologist to deploy his satellite maps to track Papa Mikel!
Musiwa, Musiwa, Musiwa. . Where art thou?! Nigeria needs your help!  

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

What exactly are you trying to say? Selfishness to who? Those bunch or criminals who took his daddy? Why are we quick to side with the kidnappers?

Let us pray the father is not the demanding type otherwise bros might just ignore afterall he was always complaining let them do what they can while i save some for das dash dashh


The scourge of kidnapping in our society has reached such a worrisome height that some rich men now have what we call A RANSOM ACCOUNT .a kidnapper's settlement account.

God where are we heading, this problems of kidnapping,robbery and 419ers are not unconnected to unemployment if you ask me.


Sorry Mikel.i wish you luck and Gods favor over a safe release of your dad.

ok ok, al said n done, lets get dis straight, nobody is actuali urgin mikel 2 pay up. Bt kidnapin n blackmailing case is about d most dificult 2 solve. If d kidnapers reali mean biz as i think they do, its a case of life vs money. So what mikel nids is a gud negotiator whl he hope al goes wel

ok ok, al said n done, lets get dis straight, nobody is actuali urgin mikel 2 pay up. Bt kidnapin n blackmailing case is about d most dificult 2 solve. If d kidnapers reali mean biz as i think they do, its a case of life vs money. So what mikel nids is a gud negotiator whl he hope al goes wel

D rate of crime is bcumin 2 much in dis country. The worst scenerio is d fact dat we do not have gud national security. Mikel shld b careful in his dealings wit dis issue, n d police shld do their best in apprehendin dose criminals, separatin a father from his home n luved ones. They re thieves, wantin 2 collect what dey did not sow.

2 baba would be laffing last. Always respect your fellow brothers. I heard the kidnappers never contact Mikel's family

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do something about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

Why should we be encouraging evil in this country. I am sick & tired of this gaddem country. Where militants are paid salaries & house allowances, and graduates are allowed to roam the street, with nothing to show. That is why evil will continue to reign. The govt. needs to address the issue of unemployment or else,

I thought the NIGERIAN police said earlier that he was ,missing' and not 'kidnapped'

the money too much for Mikel papa. The guy fit use that 1/10 of the money adopt plenty papa for naija.

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

I believe you're kidding right?

woodcook:

the money too much for Mikel papa. The guy fit use that 1/10 of the money adopt plenty papa for naija.

The money isnt too much for Mikel. Just his weekly wage would pay the ransom

@Posters, haba, just because Mikel gets paid PHAT money does not mean he should pay up, rather than concentrate on embarrassing our impotent government to improve the state of security we are busy going to CAMP every Friday and listening to channel O every other day and reading City People.

Kidnappers have shown us that nobody Rich or Poor is safe, one day it might be your kid's turn and you may not have a dime to pay talk-less of having it in EUROS and STERLING.

We must all raise our pitiable voices to the Federal Government to improve Security and Reduce Crime. we are busy lambasting Mikel to pay up. SO what if he does, what stops the next band of Kidnappers from picking up his Father just after the ransom has been paid to also get their own share. you can have as many as 6 different kidnapping gangs going turn-by-turn to Kidnap Mikels father and the Police cannot do anything about it.

Nigerians!!! WTF

that stu-pid boy is busy running around playing 4 useless chelski while his father is missing,
shows he doesnt value the man that much.

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

ode,when haters talk they are easily known.you ask am money before and he no give you so he dey pain you abi.ma lo wa ise se if you no get work.maybe they should kidnap one of your parents then you will know how it is.

I thought 9ja police said d man waz missing which 1 is kidnapping again.

hbrednic:

that stu-pid boy is busy running around playing 4 useless chelski while his father is missing,
shows he doesnt value the man that much.

so what you are trying to say is that immediately he heard the news he ought to catch the next available flight to nigeria.a little thinking will be very good if it is done before posting next time.

4reigningqueen:

so what you are trying to say is that immediately he heard the news he ought to catch the next available flight to nigeria.a little thinking will be very good if it is done before posting next time.

ignored

Sun of god:

About a weeks wages for Mikel yet his father is still being held captive.

I'm sure he's haggling over the ransom demand.

Mikel needs to do soemthing about his selfish nature.

Hurry up and wire the money to them foool.

Kidnapper like you