The increasing spate of kidnap of workers of Total Oil continued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as one Ngozi Ile, a worker with the oil giant was in the early hours of Sunday kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
The kidnappers are already asking for N10 million ransom or $55,000 , whichever one her relations prefer , saying any of the two would be acceptable to them.
The kidnap of Ile was followed yesterday night with the kidnap of a Catholic priest and former Chairman of the Universal Basic Education in Rivers State under Dr. Peter Odili administration, Reverend Father Pius Kii.
Kii was said to have been trailed by his abductors from Corpus Christi where the Catholic church has its largest worship centre in Port Harcourt to the Leventis area before his car was blocked by the hoodlums who took him away to an unknown destination.
Ile, the Total worker was said to have been accosted by his abductors around Elekahia by Liberty Stadium road, about 1.5 kilometres from the Head office of Total in Port Harcourt.Kii was allegedly kidnapped at about 23.50hrs while some sources said his kidnappers had already made some monetary demand on the church which however had not been made known.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mrs. Rita Abbey, confirmed that the priest was abducted by some hoodlums. Information available to THISDAY said Ile works in the Finance Department of Total prior to her kidnap by the
hoodlums.
There is said to be panic on the part of Total workers as their staff have suddenly become targets of attack. Its Deputy General Manager, Mr. Ikechi Anozie was kidnapped and released after alleged payment of ransom.Also, one Mrs. Ukana was kidnapped and released shortly after Alozie was kidnapped. Alozie’s release was said to have been hastened by the release of Mrs. Ukana who informed Total people that Alozie was brought to the same camp where she was kept.Thereafter, negotiations came to a head which led to the speedy release of Alozie after an undisclosed ransom running into several millions exchanged hands.It is believed in security circles that the recent targeting of Total staff was based on the fact that they fell into the trap of paying ransom since kidnapping its staff had become a good business for the hoodlums.
Jan272009