The kidnap of 92-year old elder statesmen and former Minister of Petroleum, Shettima Ali Munguno from a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State has been described as by Governor of the state, Kashim Shettima as an inhumane act.
Munguno was kidnapped by four armed men gunmen as he left the mosque after Jumat prayers, confirming an earlier alarm by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) that members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect are finding kidnapping in exchange for ransom an attractive prospect.
Reacting to the kidnap, Governor Shettima promised that his government would do all within its powers to secure the freedom of Munguno, who was one of the Borno elders present at a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan during his official visit to the state, and has been at the forefront of calls for amnesty for the insurgents in addition to withdrawal of soldiers from the state.
Shettima said he had contacted both the president and the national security adviser on the kidnap, and he was sure the nonagenarian would be rescued.
“It is inhumane for anybody to kidnap a 92-year-old man. Only a mad man will harm an old man,” the governor said.
“For whatever reason, it is the height of criminality and stupidity. By God’s grace, we will secure his release. We will look assiduously and tirelessly to see that we secure his freedom. But the deed has been done. It is not for us to lament over the sorry state we have found ourselves, but to find solution to the problem.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) released a statement urging the kidnappers to release him immediately. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, lamented that such elder statesman who had served both the state and the country could be so humiliated.
“If, as is being bandied about, Boko Haram members are the kidnappers, in order to press for the release of their detained members by the authorities, ACF wishes to say they are going about it the wrong way,” the statement read.
“Rather, they should press for the release of their members using the mechanism of dialogue put in place by the government, instead of causing the old man any untold hardship.
“The kidnappers should, therefore, heed public appeals and release Monguno forthwith in the interest of humanity and peace dearly needed for meaningful socio-economic and political development of not only Borno State, but also the whole country.”
Already, Borno Elders, led by Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, have held an emergency meeting with the governor and security chiefs with a view to devising the bes strategy for securing the abductee’s release.
