Super Eagles’ skipper, John Mikel Obi, has revealed that the news of the kidnap of his dad, Pa Michael Obi, was broken to him two hours before their final World Cup Group D game against Argentina.
Speaking after his dad’s release from the kidnappers den on Monday, Obi revealed that he was undeterred to play against the Argentines when the news was broken to him.
He said: “We were few hours to kick off against Argentina when I got wind of the report that my dad had been kidnapped but I had no choice than to pray for his safety and play the game.
“I felt I had 180 million people behind me and I must make them proud, which was also the reason I had a wrist cast on my fractured finger for the game.
“And it is very painful that we lost to Argentina if you put all these that happened before the game.”
The Enugu State Police Command on Monday rescued Pa Obi.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement that Pa Obi and his driver, John Ishaya, were abducted on the Makurdi-Enugu Road on June 29.
Amairazu said they were on their way from Jos, Plateau State in a grey colour Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle with number plate, MUS 604CG, when the kidnappers struck.
The kidnappers were said to have demanded N10 million as ransom from Obi’s family.
The spokesman said around 2pm on Monday, operatives of the Ninth Mile Division of the command rescued Pa Obi and his driver in a forest in the Udi area of Enugu.
Amaraizu said the rescue was preceded by a gun battle between the police and the kidnappers, who escaped after being overpowered by the security agents.
Amaraizu said: “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, through its operatives rescued Pa Michael Obi and his driver, one Ishaya John, unhurt in Egede Udi forest on Monday, July 2, 2018, around 2.30pm along old Egede-Affa Road, Enugu.
“They were rescued hale and hearty and pa Michael Obi and the driver have been reunited with their families.
“Pa Obi and and his driver were abducted along Markurdi-Enugu Road on his way from Jos and taken to a thick forest.
“The abductors called to demand a ransom of N10 million before policemen, acting on intelligence information, swooped on them, after which a gun duel ensued which forced the hoodlums to abandon their victims inside the forest and fled.