{"id":3121,"date":"2013-05-05T04:27:45","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T04:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/boko-haram-im-fine-says-abducted-monguno\/"},"modified":"2013-05-05T04:27:45","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T04:27:45","slug":"boko-haram-im-fine-says-abducted-monguno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/boko-haram-im-fine-says-abducted-monguno\/","title":{"rendered":"Boko Haram: I\u2019m fine, says abducted Monguno"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\u2022 Family pleads for access to his drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Northern govs demand his release<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Insurgents await ransom, assure on ex-minister\u2019s safety<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elder statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Shettima Ali Monguno, remained in captivity yesterday, 24 hours after he was seized by four gunmen in Maiduguri, Borno State.<\/p>\n

His abductors, believed to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, were said to be awaiting ransom from the family of the 92-year-old elder statesman.<\/p>\n

Although Shettima Monguno is reported to be \u2018fine\u2019 in captivity, his family pleaded last night that he should be allowed access to his drugs.<\/p>\n

The kidnappers reportedly phoned the family yesterday with an assurance that \u201cBaba is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State flew into Abuja on Friday evening to brief President Goodluck Jonathan and Borno stakeholders in Abuja on the situation.<\/p>\n

There were indications that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) and other intelligence agencies have located where Monguno is being held but most stakeholders, including the state government, prefer dialogue with the gunmen to military action.<\/p>\n

A highly-placed source said: \u201cThey have not released the elder statesman; they said they are awaiting ransom. What has made the situation dicey borders on the fact that they have not named their price. Their silence has created anxiety for everybody. But they put a call to the family saying \u2018Baba is safe.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing an appeal from Governor Shettima, some eminent clerics and leaders with link to Boko Haram have been intervening to secure the release of Monguno.\u201d<\/p>\n

The abduction of Monguno has created worries for the state governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe governor is concerned that given his age, Monguno eats less and takes some food supplement to make up for his body functioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe governor appeals to his captors to consider the health conditions applicable to his age and release him to reunite with his family. Family members are said to have the same fears expressed by Governor Shettima.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is said that the old man takes different drugs seven times daily based on physician\u2019s prescription.<\/p>\n

A government source said that Monguno spoke with his family members by phone. He was said to be psychologically stable and appealed for calm and prayers. He was quoted as saying \u201cDon\u2019t get worried please. I am fine, just be reciting lahaula wa la quwata illa billah, (Allah is in control). Nothing to worry about, I am fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remarks was said to have immediately brought some relief to his family, according to the source.<\/p>\n

The Governor\u2019s Special Adviser, Communications, Alhaji Isa Gusau said: \u201cAs concerted efforts are being made to ensure the safe release of Monguno from captivity, Governor Shettima yesterday expressed concern over the fact that the elder statesman may be without some drugs made of food supplements some of which have remained the elder statesman\u2019s companion in the last twenty years or more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if the government was sure of the safety of Monguno, another source added: \u201cThe abductors were said to have requested that they needed some \u2018alms, to help their course but didn\u2019t specify any amount.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile he was being forced into a car, his abductors were said to be apologising to him and insisting they merely needed money and they had to do what they did.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday demanded the immediate release of the elder statesman.<\/p>\n

Describing the action as totally unacceptable, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu\u2019azu Babangida Aliyu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo in Minna said that it was sad that an elder statesman who has served the nation selflessly became the target of kidnappers.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt is bad enough that several innocent citizens have been killed by unknown gunmen in the troubled Borno State in recent times. Adding the fear of kidnapping of elder statesmen who have served their father land selflessly to their burden is unbearable\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n

He called on security agencies to act swiftly to trace and arrest those behind the abduction to serve as a deterrent to those who may want to now target elder statesmen, or any Nigerian for that matter.<\/p>\n

It hailed the Borno State Government for the steps taken so far to rescue the 92-year-old from his abductors, while assuring Nigerians that the forum was working closely with the federal government to tackle the challenges of insecurity decisively.<\/p>\n

————————————————————————————————————————-
Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: The Nation Newspaper<\/p>\n

DisNaija.Com<\/b> publishes regular posts on Nigeria News,<\/a> Nigerian Newspapers,<\/a> Online Nigeria Gist.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us on Twitter<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Nigerian Newspapers<\/a>
\n
\nFollow @Dis_Naija<\/a>
\n