Kidnappers yet to release wife of railway boss as police close in

FIVE days after she was whisked away by suspected gunmen in the Edo State capital of Benin, Mrs Francisca Okhiria, the wife of the managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria is yet to be released by her kidnappers.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr DanMallam Mohammed however assured that the police were on top of the situation as they were hot on the trail of the kidnappers.

Mohammed who spoke in Benin yesterday said that the police were not relenting in ensuring that Mrs Okhiria was freed, unhurt by her abductors.

The gunmen who were in police uniform had reportedly trailed her from the Benin Airport and kidnapped her on the way to her house in uptown Benin on September 25.

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During the escape bid, the gunmen were said to have shot an off duty soldier who was standing by the road side perhaps to evade arrest.

An army sergeant attached to the woman who was also shot was rushed off to the nearby military hospital for urgent medical attention.

The Edo Police boss said that he was not aware of ransom demand of N20 million by the kidnappers before letting go of their victims.

Mohammed said: “We are on the case. The police in Edo is not taking kindly to this kidnap case. Investigations are still ongoing. We will get to the root of the case. We are not relenting and will release her, unhurt.”

The Edo State spokesman, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor recalled that the woman was kidnapped at suburban Irhirhi along with NNPC filling station.

“The police recovered the vehicle; a Land Cruiser Prado jeep when the incident took place. The Army sergeant shot by the hoodlums was with her as security personnel and eventually taken to the military hospital by the police. The gunmen came in a Toyota Camry.”