President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday directed security agencies to
rescue Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the kidnapped octogenarian mother of Finance
Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Dr. Jonathan has returned to Abuja after the funeral of his younger brother, Meni, in Bayelsa State.
A massive manhunt for the kidnappers, who were yet to contact the
family as at 7.30pm last night, has begun. In the battle to rescue Mrs
Okonjo are the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the
Intelligence units of the Armed Forces.
The family is said to be worried over the fragile health of the retired Professor of Sociology.
The Ministry of Finance was virtually shut down as a result of the incident.
The Minister relocated to Delta, it was gathered.
“We might not have been able to establish motive, but it is a clear
case of kidnap,” police spokesman Frank Mba told AFP, adding that “the
police have already launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators of
the crime.
A source said: “The SSS, the police and Intelligence units of the
Army, Air Force and Navy are all involved in the efforts to locate Mrs.
Okonjo.
“We are still trying to identify where the old woman was taken to by
the fleeing suspects. We will try our best to rise to this challenge.
“The President has directed all the security agencies to rescue the victim in a tactical manner to avoid being hurt.”
A police source in Delta said a crack team of detectives from Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has been deployed in Delta to track
the kidnappers.
The source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he called the
sensitivity of the matter, said: “The kidnappers are yet to get in
touch with the family. We are awaiting their call. I am quite sure that
they will soon reach out to the family.
“The security agencies are liaising with the family to get some clues
and also give an update on their efforts. But the family prefers a
low-profile approach to the rescue operation.”
The Okonjo family is said to be worried about the health of its matriarch.
Another source said: “For quite some time, the health of the aged
mother of the minister has been fragile. And this gives a serious worry
to the Minister because she was not allowed access to her drugs before
she was kidnapped.
“The situation is tense in the family because of fears that her health might deteriorate.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “We are anxious about her
health. That is why the family has been unusually quiet. We want to
leave this issue out of the media as much as possible, until the
situation is sorted out.
“It is quite harrowing and emotionally challenging. If you can keep
this off the media, we will appreciate it. That is why all the aides of
the minister and associates are not picking calls. The emotional trauma
is too much.”
Early yesterday, activities at the Ministry of Finance were virtually paralysed.
An official of the ministry said: “We were all devastated; we could
not work effectively because the woman has been hardworking and highly
reform-oriented. It is sad that the mother of such a patriotic Nigerian
could suffer this kind of fate.”
Sources in Delta said Prof. Chukuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwushi-Ukwu,
the husband of the kidnapped mother of the minister, has been “a
difficult Very Important Person (VIP) to manage for the police.”
He is believed to have rejected all entreaties for security detail to be provided for him and his wife.
He is also opposed to the activities of the vigilance group in his palace, it was gathered.
When he travelled to Nasarawa, where he was at the time of his wife’s
kidnap on Sunday, he is believed to have timed down the police’s
attempt to provide him an orderly.
The Minister set her worries aside and reported for work in her
office yesterday – although briefly. She received some guests and made
telephone calls.
An official of the ministry said: “Since she came to work today it is
likely she was in Abuja at the weekend when the news of the kidnapping
broke.”
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