Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno finally released by kidnappers



Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno has been finally released by kidnappers, elombah.com can confirm. The former Nigerian oil minister was kidnapped Friday by gunmen who stormed his vehicle outside a mosque in the restive city of Maiduguri, a stronghold of Islamist group Boko Haram. Elombah.com source in Maiduguri said the elder statesman was

released a few minutes ago, but did not say whether any ransom was paid before the release.

Shettima Ali Monguno, 87, served as Nigeria's oil minister in the 1970s and held the rotating presidency of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1972.



"The abductors got in touch and they put my father through on the phone, he spoke to us and said that he was fine. They made a ransom demand," the ex-minister's son, Abubakar Ali Monguno told AFP, declining to give a figure.

Other residents and relatives said that Monguno had stayed behind to greet well-wishers after prayers and was attacked shortly after entering his car.

While no group claimed the attack, Boko Haram was behind a spate of assassinations and kidnappings around the northeastern city.

Borno state governor Kashim Shettima was mobilising elders and security chiefs in Maiduguri to discuss means of securing the ex-minister's safe release, a statement from his office said.

"The kidnap is likely targeted at a heavy ransom," the statement said.

Monguno, chairman of the Borno elders' forum, "has remained the face of Borno" over the years, it said. The (Boko Haram) sect perhaps realised how important Monguno is and hence could attract a high price in exchange for his release."

Monguno was among the group of elders who met President Goodluck Jonathan in Maiduguri in March to discuss the Boko Haram crisis.

He has repeatedly called for dialogue with the militant group and urged Jonathan to reduce the massive security deployment in the city and ease a curfew forcing all residents to stay indoors after sundown.

Boko Haram's insurgency has left thousands dead since 2009.



http://www.elombah.com/index.php/reports/15693-dr-shettima-ali-monguno-finally-released-by-kidnappers

HUMMMMMM

if this boko boys would been kidnapping all this bad politicians than killing innocent souls it gonna be lovely

His people contacted him and released him, we are here worrying. Which kidnapped...

He should b like the fastest released Kidnapping Victim ever

the_ripper3: He should b like the fastest released Kidnapping Victim ever

Kidnapped a politician on friday, released on saturday!

This is kidnapping inequalities for goodness sake.
They will kidnap a layman for many days before the release.
Kidnap an academician and kill him.
kidnap a foreigner for weeks, kill or later free them.