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Kidnappers free wife of CBN governor

By Editor
01 October 2016   |   7:48 am
The wife of the governor of Nigeria's Central bank who was kidnapped on Friday has been freed.
Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIP OJISUA

Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIP OJISUA

The wife of the governor of Nigeria’s Central bank who was kidnapped on Friday has been freed.

A statement released in Abuja on Saturday by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications of CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor, stated that the CBN governor’s wife was rescued on Friday night.

Margaret Emefiele was abducted at Ugoneki, a few miles from Benin City, Edo State. A source told the Guardian on Friday that Emefiele’s orderly died when the kidnappers struck.

The source said Mrs. Emefiele had boarded a flight from Abuja and landed safely at the Benin Airport, from where she left for Agbor in Delta State by road.

It was gathered that the hoodlums intercepted the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) she was travelling in and shot her orderly, who attempted to resist the operation.

It was not yet clear how the heavily armed men escaped with their captives into the bush, but sources said that two persons, including Mrs. Emefiele, were whisked away.

The kidnappers made contact with the CBN governor, demanding a huge sum in ransom.

Emefiele praised the security agencies for their gallantry in bringing his wife back home within 24 hours, in compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He expressed his gratitude to the Delta and Edo State Governments, friends and well-wishers, who through their actions, prayers and goodwill, helped to bring this harrowing experience to a joyful end.

The CBN Governor reaffirmed his resolve to continue to serve the nation diligently, without any fear of intimidation.

Mrs. Emefiele, was kidnapped on Thursday along with three other women and a male driver on thier way to Agbor, Delta State, where she (Emefiele) hails from.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had deployed helicopters, hundreds of police operatives and sniffer dogs along the Benin-Agbor Road, where the incident took place.

A senior police officer said, “We received information on Thursday that the CBN governor’s wife was abducted alongside three women and a male driver. They were on their way to Agbor, Delta State, where she hails from.

The Kidnappers had demanded N100 million as ransom after taking their victims to an unknown location.

The police, however, said the gunmen did not know her identity, but only stumbled on her and whisked her away.

3 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Nigeria, a country that is moving backward, shameless country.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Hmmmmm?! So fast?!

  • Author’s gravatar

    I join the Emefieles in thanking the people who “helped to bring this harrowing experience to a joyful end.” I also urge the Nigerian security agencies to be so quick in responding to other Nigerians who have fallen victim to similar circumstances. For instance, a friend was kidnapped on Port Harcourt – Owerri road, near one of the numerous military checkpoints along that road. A few days later, the man escaped from the kidnappers. When he reported to the police station near his point of kidnap to retrieve his car which was abandoned in the course of the operation and was apparently taken by the police, he experienced another round of harrowing experience. Before he got back his car, the police asked him for money and also referred him to the police headquarters for another round of payment.