Police Begin Manhunt for Abductors of Siasia's Mother

 

The police in Bayelsa State on Monday confirmed the abduction of the mother of former Super Eagles striker and coach, Samson Siasia, vowing to ensure she is promptly released.

Giving an insight into how Madam Beauty Ogere Siasia was forcibly taken away, the police said the gunmen accessed the old woman's residence through the popular River Nun which flows through Sagbama local council.

Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said the hoodlums attacked the house at about 2 a.m. yesterday morning, but assured the family that the force has deployed its special tactical team to rescue the woman.

According to Butswat, "On July 15, at about 0200hours, unknown gunmen, who were heavily armed, came through the waterways of River Nun  and invaded the residence of one Mrs. Beauty Siasia, 80,  in the riverine village  of Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State  and whisked her away through the waterways to an unknown destination.

"The state Commissioner of Police and the police command Tactical Team have visited the scene of the crime.

"The command, in collaboration with other security stakeholders, has launched a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators and rescue the victim. Also, investigation is ongoing."

Madam Siasia had been abducted about four years ago after while her son, Samson, was in the Gambia in 2015, preparing the under-23 team for the African under-23 championship which took place in Senegal.

At that time, she spent about two weeks in the kidnapers' den before she was released after paying an undisclosed ransom.

The abductors had demanded an initial N150 million, making the former coach to cry out that he wasn’t a rich man to be so exploited.

Some other Nigerian footballers who had been at the receiving end of kidnappers at different times are Nigerian international Christian Obodo whose mother was abducted in Warri, Delta State, in June 2012.

Before then, the father of Nigerian footballer and former Chelsea player, John Obi Mikel, was kidnapped in Jos, Plateau State, and was re-abducted in 2018 while his son was representing the country at the FIFA World Cup.

Earlier this year, The mother of Nigeria winger, Samuel Kalu, was kidnapped in Abia State and was only released after a double ransom was paid by her family.