Nigeria: Kidnappers seize 78-year-old

A five-man gang of kidnappers at about 6.30 last night stormed the family house of the Soludos in Isofia, Aguata Council Area of Anambra State, and whisked away the father of PDP gubernatorial candidate in the February 6, 2010 election in the state, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

A cousin of the PDP candidate and member of the state House of Assembly in the Third Republic, Hon Chike Anyaonu, told THISDAY in Usofia last night that the family was stunned.

According to him, the 78-year-old Simeon Soludo was taking his dinner in his country home when the kidnappers knocked on his door and whisked him away in a waiting vehicle outside the gate.

He said the whereabouts of the kidnappers and their victim was yet to be established, but hinted that a formal report had been lodged with the Aguata Division of the Nigerian police at Ekwulobia.

Opinions aggregated by THISDAY in Anambra last night showed that the kidnap may have been politically motivated given the myriad of attacks by Soludo's opponents in the last two weeks when he was announced as the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in the said election.

His nomination has been subjected to a series of litigations in court.

But Anyaonu said no contact had been established with the kidnappers and no ransom had been demanded.

Gloom was the word at Soludo's family house last night. The family members were apparently confused about the kidnap of their patriarch.