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Ogwashi-Uku (Delta) – One of the children of the Okonjo family, Mr Onyema Okonjo, on Monday blamed security lapses for the kidnap of his mother, Prof. Kanenne Okonjo.
Kanenne (82), is the mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Onyema told reporters in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta that his mother was kidnapped on Sunday at her residence between 12 noon and 1 p.m. by 10 young men.
“They came in two green Golf cars and it all happened very quickly.
“I think there were definitely some lapses in terms of security. It is not what it should have been, the people that were supposed to have been here were not here.
*Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu where Prof. Kanenne Okonjo was kidnapped Photo NATH ONOJAKE
“This gave them the opportunity to do what they wanted to do, but at the end of the day; we really have to be prayerful.
“I think it is really a sad reflection of where we are as a society,” Onyema, the sixth in the line of seven children of the Okonjos, said.
He wondered why an octogenarian woman, a grand mother and great grand mother should be kidnapped.
Onyema said that his father, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Okonjo-Iweala were on their away to Ogwashi-Uku when the incident happened.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in Delta, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, said that this was not the time to trade blames.
He, however, promised that any officer indicted would be punished.
Aduba said that in every case of kidnapping, there was always an insider, adding that investigation was on to unravel the situation and free Kanenne unhurt.
“We have been holding meetings with the governor and we have sent out our men to comb every nook and cranny and I am sure we will get her out unhurt,’’ Aduba said.
There was a large number of security personnel at the residence of the Okonjos at the time of filling this report. (NAN)
