THE scourge of kidnapping which is gradually becoming a regular occurrence in some parts of the country, may have spread to Abuja.
There were fears yesterday that the Executive Director (Operations) at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), John Ayodele may have been kidnapped.
Sources at the Maitama premises of the headquarters of PHCN told The Guardian that Ayodele was kidnapped two days ago (Thursday night) from his Abuja office.
The kidnappers were said to have demanded N30 million ransom from Ayodele’s family.
As at press time, although no official sources could confirm the veracity or otherwise of the story, some staff, who confided in The Guardian last night, stressed that negotiations were on to give the kidnappers N5 million.
John Ayodele was appointed in March this year when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua sacked the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Bello Suleiman and two other executive directors of the company.
However, there were conflicting reports last night that it was Ayodele’s wife who was kidnapped.
Attempts to speak with Ministry and PHCN sources officially proved abortive, as none of them wanted to be quoted.
A source added: “I am not sure anybody can give official information on a sensitive issue like this. You may be wise to work with what you have.”