THE 65 year-old Mother of business mogul, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Madam Mafe Jimoh, was kidnapped by four gun wielding men, Sunday, even as the Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Ighoyota Amori, whose 97-year-old mother, Mrs. Obireyibo Amori was kidnapped by gunmen, few days ago, refused to “play ball” to the chagrin of the kidnappers.

Kidnappers of Barrister Ibrahim’s mother were yet to request for any ransom because a family source said the mother of the politician left her phone in the house when she was whisked away by the kidnappers.
Vanguard learnt that Madam Mafe was kidnapped by four armed men who invaded the billionaire’s Igbotako country home, in Okitipupa Council Area of Ondo State.

The state Police Command’s image maker, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, confirmed the kidnap of the mother of the politician yesterday, noting that the family of the politician reported the incident at the Igbotako Police Station around 11.30 p.m., weekend.

He said the Command has commenced full investigation into the matter to ensure that the woman was released unhurt.

Vanguard gathered that the four gunmen arrived the one-storey building around 8.00pm, and pretended that they wanted to buy some locally made mats which she sells.

One of the guards employed by the politician, Donatus Ekuma, told newsmen at Igbotako: “Mama was upstairs when the kidnappers arrived. Four of them came in a vehicle. Two came down from the car and demanded to see Mama. They claimed to be her customers and that they wanted to buy some mats. I told them that Mama was resting upstairs but they insisted on seeing her personally before making their purchase and I obliged them.”

Ekuma said the story changed when the old woman came out to meet her ‘customers’ as she was held with force and dragged into their waiting vehicle.

He said: “I immediately raised the alarm but the gunmen pointed their guns at me and other domestic staff on duty, ordering us to lie face-down.”

Vanguard learnt that the driver attached to Madam Mafe was said to have gone out when the kidnappers invaded the house but left the vehicle in front of the building.

Efforts to speak with the elder brother of the politician, Mr. Sola Jimoh, proved abortive as he failed to answer his calls.

Meanwhile, the senatorial candidate of the PDP in Delta Central, Chief Ighoyota Amori, has refused to pay N50 million ransom as requested by the kidnappers of his 97-year-old mother, Mrs. Obireyibo Amori.

Amori refuses to pay N50m ransom

Vanguard learnt that in line with the warning of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force set up by the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Chief Amori has refused pay ransom to the kidnappers, who initially asked for N100 million.

The kidnappers who shifted their base from Warri metropolis as a result of the manhunt for them by the DWSC Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, stormed the Obokpa, Mosogar residence of Mrs. Amori and seized the old woman.

They reportedly found their way to Mosogar en-route Jesse and fled to the creek via Ajagbodudu with their victim.

A source told Vanguard: “They thought Amori would genuflect and start negotiating ransom with them, but so far, they have failed. They first asked for N100 million and reduced it to N50 million when they found out the PDP senatorial candidate was not responding. Before then, they threatened that he should pay the ransom or drop his senatorial ambition.”

It was gathered that the kidnappers who have not received favourable response from Chief Amori have been calling him frequently on his GSM line to act.

The source said: “They know that the DWSC Anti-Kidnapping Task Force is already on them and that if they keep the woman for too long, they would be tracked down, so they want Chief Amori to pay money quickly to them.”

The PDP senatorial candidate for Delta Central, Chief Amori, who confirmed the kidnap of his mother pleaded with the kidnappers to release the aged woman, who is old enough to be a grandmother or great grandmother to her captors.

Armed men attack Senator Uzamere, kill orderly

In a related development, political tension heightened in Edo State, Sunday, when armed men, suspected to be hired assassins, attacked the convoy of the senator representing Edo South and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, senatorial candidate in the forthcoming elections, Senator Ehigie Uzamere. They killed his police orderly, Sergeant Onyeishi and shot his driver on the hip.

The incident which occurred around Zabayo Street, off Stadium road at about 8.00 p.m. Sunday, caused panic in the area as one of the mobile Policemen in the senator’s convoy responded by killing one of the assailants on the spot.

The senator, however, escaped unhurt, but his driver is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Two of the suspects were arrested by men of the Joint Military Task Force in the state.
Uzamere who was visibly shocked while addressing newsmen in Benin City, yesterday, said: “I was with two vehicles, my aides were in the other car so I stopped around Obasimi and Zabayo streets to talk to my aides.

And as I came down to meet them, there were gunshots every where and immediately, Sgt Onyeisi was gunned down. My driver, Muhammed, was shot in the hip.

Shooting of orderly

“We called the State Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, immediately and they reacted swiftly. It was then that we discovered that my orderly has been shot dead but one of the Mobile policemen killed one of the assailants while two others escaped.

This afternoon I was called by the state Police Command and they told me that the boys were arrested. I went there and asked the boy if he knew me, he said yes that I had helped him before. So I left them with the police to continue their investigation. But it was purely an assassination attempt.”

Asked if he was suspecting anybody, Uzamere said: “We were three that contested the ACN senatorial primary and I won. I have offered to serve and one or two bullets will not deter me. I am ready to lay down my life for the emancipation of the Binis. I don’t know why any true Benin son would want to kill me because I have done a lot for the Binis and I will continue because Bini is my blood.”