MIKEL'S FATHER KIDNAP SAGA

By NBF News

Michael Obi, who runs a transport company in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, in central Nigeria, has not been seen since Friday as he did not return home from work.

The 24-year-old Nigerian midfielder pleaded with his father's kidnappers Monday to free him, begging: 'Please just let him go'.

Nigeria Police have confirmed that Michael Obi was reported missing, but said Tuesday they were not aware of any ransom being demanded.

'We are seriously on the lookout for Mr. Michael Obi.

We appeal to anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact the security agencies,' Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, said.

Jos has seen waves of clashes between Christians and Muslims groups that have left hundreds dead in recent years, but kidnappings have not been known to occur there.

Scores of abductions have been recorded in the oil-producing Niger Delta region in the country's south by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments or militants claiming to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ayeni has said frantic efforts are on by the command to rescue Mikel Obi's missing dad.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Sunsports in Jos, in a telephone interview yesterday on the efforts made by the police about the missing John Obi, the Plateau Police boss descried the act as 'embarrassing to all of us Nigerians'. He was, however, optimistic that the missing John Obi would soon be found.

Ayeni appealed the public who knows the whereabouts of the missing John Obi, to report to the nearest police station, he said all the divisions and police stations under the command have been briefed on the matter to take proactive steps toward rescuing Mr. John Obi, I have my team on ground that is working tirelessly on the case' the police boss stressed.

Also contributing to the in assurance of recovering of the missing person, the command's spokesman, ASP Jacob Apev, in a chat with Daily Sunsports, disclosed that the command's criminal Investigation Department CID department had commenced intense search towards retrieving Mr. Obi unhurt.

ASP Apev said a team of experts had been dispatch to the nooks and crannies of the metropolis to that effect, assuring that the the police efforts would not be in vain.

The police spoke person recalled that missing John Obi, according to family source, was on his way home in a Mercedes Bens car last weekend from his car park along Zaria road, Jos-north LGA to his resident in Rayfield, Jos South LGA and has not been seen till the time of the interview.

Our correspondent observed that, since the incident of the Missing John Obi, no group has claim responsibilities for his disappearance.

Family sources close to our reporter said, since the sudden disappearance of the Mr. Obi last week, his whereabouts has not been made known to the family, it was gathered that the family were ready to bargain with any one responsible for their missing dad, possibly for his freedom if he was actually adopted as its been speculated.

In the meantime, it was gathered that the family were not suspecting any group or person in connection to sudden disappearance of Mr. John Obi, maintaining that he 'John Obi has a peaceful and cheerful type who love making friends, and saw no reason for his adoption by any one.