Unknown gunmen in Maiduguri, believed to be members of Boko Haram, this afternoon kidnapped respected elder statesman, 87-year old Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno at the Mafoni Jumaat Mosque after he performed Friday prayers.
The kidnappers, who have contacted the family, are demanding the release of some of their members who are being held by security forces.
At the mosque, the abductors forced the octogenarian, a former federal Minister, into their car and sped away, shooting into the air to scare away worshippers.
Most residents, angered by the brazen seizure of the old man, prayed for his safe release but also for Almighty Allah to punish the perpetrators.
Confirming the incident, Munguno’s son, Rahma, told Saharareporters by phone that the kidnappers have made contact with the family, demanding not money, but freedom for some of their members being detained by the government.
Last week, the JTF in Maiduguri announced that the dreaded sect has set up a new squad which would engage in kidnapping.
Two weeks ago, the sect also reportedly made $3.5 million from kidnapping a French family in Cameroon.
………By SaharaReporters, New York
JD:This is going to be a difficult nut to crack,and one wonders how the Government will handle this dilemma .Will it give in to the kidnappers thereby setting a precedent that could backfire or would it sit it out and allow the old man pass away in the hands of the group?A military option is a bigger nut.He might jolly well not be in Nigeria as we speak!
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