Kidnappers of human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and his driver are demanding about N150m from the lawyer’s family before they can release them. The demand came yesterday on the heels of an intercession by the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who implored the captors to release them unconditionally and unhurt.
Kukah, who described Ozekhome as his friend, said the lawyer did not deserve such, having used his resources to better the lives of the poor.
Ozekhome was
reportedly kidnapped at Ehor on the Benin-Auchi-Okene highway last Friday by gunmen who allegedly blocked the road before picking out the lawyer, his driver, a politician and traveller, Mr. Athanacius Ugbome.
The kidnappers escaped in Ugbome’s car after killing four police officers attached to a patrol team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Ehor that attempted to rescue the victims.
But the Edo State Police Command, which was yet to make any arrest as at the time of filing this report, could not confirm or deny the ransom demand.
Speaking yesterday on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, the command’s spokesman, Mr. Moses Eguavoen, said that no arrest had been made.
He added, however, that the police were on the trail of the kidnappers and were closing up on them. “Investigation is still ongoing in the case. We are closing in on the kidnappers.
All I can assure you is that we will get them soon.
“It is not to my knowledge that the kidnappers have demanded any amount of money. It is also not in our strategy to confirm to you whether the kidnappers have reached out to the family or police because such information could be detrimental to the lives of the captives,” Eguavoen said.
Kukah said: “Sure, these are sad times for our country, but the kidnapping of Ozekhome carries a distinctive ironic ring to it. Here is a fine gentleman in every sense of the word, a hard working professional who has worked assiduously with his bare hands right up to the top of his profession.
“His patriotism and deep commitment to justice saw him at the forefront of the fight against tyranny and dictatorship in the darkest days of our country.
“He sacrificed his life, family and career and was a victim of some of the ugliest phases of the brutality of those in power. He did all these to give our country in particular and a new generation of young Nigerians a better future. His humble beginnings and his hard work should be seen by the young generation as ideals to be emulated.
“His country through the legal profession recognised his contribution by elevating him to the enviable position of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. The recognition only renewed his commitment to justice and the cause of the poor. “It was early this year that he pleaded with me to join a foundation he was setting up for the cause of the poor.
I was quite happy to oblige him because I have believed in his cause for the downtrodden. He has made all these sacrifices for the future of these same tragic youths who are now his captors.
“Coming at the dawn of the democracy and freedom he struggled for, this is at worst, a second crucifixion for a great patriot. True, no citizen deserves to be denied of his freedom in a democracy except those who have broken the law.
Nothing, therefore, could be more ironic than for this great son of our country to be forcefully snatched from the highway in a democracy.
“In the name of God and all that is noble, I call on his captors to release him unconditionally and immediately. I call on our young people to renounce this violent, ungodly and evil act. I believe the future of our youth does not depend on the blood money that comes from kidnapping, popular and commonplace as this ignoble cause has become.”
In a related development, a group of youths took to the streets on Tuesday in Benin to protest the kidnap.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters pleaded with the kidnappers to release Ozekhome and others unhurt and unconditionally.
The protesters gathered at Ring Road, moved from the gates of the Edo State House of Assembly through Reservation Street to NUJ Press Centre to the Government House.
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