My Dad Was Kidnapped 2hrs Before Argentina Match - Mikel Obi Speaks On Father's Rescue By Police

Super Eagles captain and midfielder, John Obi Mikel has revealed that the news of his father's kidnap was broken to him just few hours before Nigeria's final group game against Argentina.

 

Mikel Obi (left) speaks after his father (right) rescue by Police

 

 Pa Michael Obi, the father of Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi, was rescued from kidnappers by the Enugu State Police Command on Monday, after the kidnappers were said to have demanded N10m as ransom from Obi’family

While speaking after his dad’s rescue from the kidnappers den on Monday, Super Eagles’ skipper, John Obi Mikel, revealed that the news of his dad’s broken to him two hours before their final group game against Argentina.

 

Mikel who disclosed that he was undeterred to play against the Argentines when the news was broken to him, said;

 

“We were few hours to kick off against Argentina when I got wind of the report that my dad had been kidnapped but I had no choice than to pray for his safety and play the game.

 

“I felt I had 180million people behind me and I must make them proud. Which was also the reason I had a wrist cast on my fractured finger for the game.

 

“And it is very painful that we lost to Argentina if you put all these that happened before the game,” Mikel stated.

 

Meanwhile, speaking on how Pa Micheal Obi was rescued, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement that Pa Obi and his driver, John Ishaya, were abducted on Makurdi-Enugu Road on June 29, on their way from Jos, Plateau State, when he was kidnapped.

 

Amaraizu said the rescue was preceded by a gun battle between the police and the kidnappers, who escaped after being overpowered by the security agents.

 

Amaraizu said, “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, through its operatives rescued Pa Michael Obi and his driver, one Ishaya John, unhurt in Egede Udi forest on Monday, July 2, 2018, around 2.30pm along old Egede-Affa Road, Enugu.

 

“They were rescued hale and hearty and pa Michael Obi and the driver have been reunited with their families.

 

“Pa Obi and and his driver were abducted along Markurdi-Enugu Road on his way from Jos and taken to a thick forest.

 

“The abductors called to demand a ransom of N10m before policemen, acting on intelligence information, swooped on them, after which a gun duel ensued which forced the hoodlums to abandon their victims inside the forest and fled.”