Gunmen Kidnap Elder Statesman, Ali Monguno

[TGD]

 Kill Council Secretary In Maiduguri

IT was double tragedy for Borno State Friday and Thursday as four gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members kidnapped elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno at the Mafoni Central Mosque in Maiduguri, the state capital, at about  2pm.

On Thursday, the Secretary of Dikwa Local Government Council, Alhaji Kachallah Umara was shot dead at his Gomari residence at 8.35 p.m.

Umara, according to an eyewitness, was trailed by three gunmen in a tricycle to his residence. They asked for him and when he appeared, fired several shots into his chest and head in the full glare of his wife and children.

The eyewitness said the gunmen did not snatch his vehicle or rob any of his family members, adding that they fled in the same tricycle that had brought them.

On the kidnap of Monguno who is 92 years old, a resident of Mafoni who was at the mosque in a telephone interview in Maiduguri Friday, said: "We were shocked and terrified, when four gunmen dressed in T-shirts and flowing gowns pulled out pistols from their waists and forcefully dragged Dr. Shettima Monguno into the station wagon vehicle that brought him for the Jumat prayers at the mosque, and zoomed off into unknown destination of Maiduguri metropolis.

"The soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) rushed to the mosque 10 minutes after the gunmen had fled with the elder statesman."

As at the time of filling this report, the gunmen had not contacted any member of his family or any Borno State government official to demand the usual ransom.

The Guardian also learnt that the kidnap of Monguno brings to seven, the number of top government officials, businessmen and traditional rulers already kidnapped in Borno State.

Prof. Abba Kagu of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) who was kidnapped on February 23, 2013 by suspected Boko Haram gunmen has not been released, as the police or men of JTF are yet to get any clue on the kidnapping of the varsity don who lived at Federal Low cost Housing Estate, Maiduguri.

Spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, in telephone chat Friday in Maiduguri, confirmed the abduction of Monguno, the Minister of Petroleum and Steel Resources during General Yakubu Gowon's administration.

He said the JTF is aware of the kidnapping and that security agencies are working round the clock to rescue the elder statesman.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who dashed to the Government Reservation Area (GRA) residence of  Monguno on hearing of the incidence yesterday, said: "Efforts are being stepped up by security agents in Maiduguri metropolis to rescue our father and elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno in the custody of these gunmen."



The Guardian