Mrs. Kamene Okonjo, a retired professor was kidnapped 5 days ago by unknown men to a remote part of the city which raised concerns about the volatile nature of the security apparatus in the country.
Delta State/ NationalTurk – Mr. Uduaghan said reporters that the kidnappers had probably decided to let her go because of the way the Military and the Police effort which put them under intense pressure right from the day she was kidnapped.
“The army and police have been on their trail and a lot of raids have been done. I think because of the heat they dropped her off on the highway,” he told the press on early Friday.
Eyewitness also told local reporters that many people were detained on Thursday all in the name of searching for Mrs. Okonjo but nothing significant was achieved during the search party by the security.
Earlier this week finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala had been threatened recently and confirmed Mrs. her release, but gave no further details.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, 58, is an internationally respected economist who has led a high-profile campaign to clean up corruption in Nigeria, particularly in a controversial fuel subsidy programme in the Delta State.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was one of the leading candidates to take over the World Bank this spring and she worked previously as the institution’s managing-director but lost out the race to become the boss of the Bank to Korean-American, Jim Yong Kim this year.
Kidnappers always demand for ransom
Some family members who spoke on condition of anonymity told local reporters that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers but this cannot be verified as many analysts also believe that some private negotiation mighty have gone on since Government policy is against paying of ransom.
Kidnapping in Nigeria is common in the Southern States as people are frequently kidnapped and demand ransom by the kidnappers as they target footballers, politicians and well to do people in the society since probably they can pay for ransoms.
Chelsea Midfielder Mikel Obi’s father was kidnapped not quite long ago and later released like Mrs. Okonjo.
Issaka Adams/NationalTurk Africa News
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