Kaduna SSG kidnapped, captors demand N40m - He is not kidnapped; we sent him on an assignment - Govt

From Hassan Ibrahim, and Chris Agbambu with Agency Reports - 23.09.2009

THE captors of the Secretary to the Kaduna State government, Mr. Waje Yayok, are asking for a N40 million ransom for his release, his relations said on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Yayok was kidnapped on Monday night at Manchok, his hometown, in the Kaura Local Government Area, where he had travelled to for the Sallah break.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Tambari Mohammed, confirmed the kidnap, but said that it was regarded as a case of a missing person for now.

Mohammed told NAN on telephone that the police were on top of the situation.

A member of the Yayok family and the Danmasanin Manchock, Malam Shehu Abui, also confirmed that Yayok was kidnapped on Monday night by unknown persons.

Abui, a former Editor-in-Chief of NAN, said the kidnappers were demanding N40 million as ransom from the state government before they could release Yayok.

Kaduna State governor, Dr. Namadi Sambo, told newsmen shortly after his visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, that he would speak later in the day.

But later, in a a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Umar Sani, the government said it had only sent Yayok on an assignment to the southern part of the state with a large sum of money when the alleged kidnap report started making the rounds.

The statement read: “we have been inundated with enquiries as to the whereabouts of the SSG of Kaduna State, Mr. Waje Yayok, over a case of abduction.

“These enquiries necessitated that we respond appropriately to these rumours in order to set the records straight.

“While it is true that the SSG was on official assignment to the southern part of Kaduna, we are yet to get in contact with him over his supposed location. We believe he will get in contact with us soon.

“However, the gravity and the intensity of the rumours require us to take steps to ensure that everything is in order. The security agencies have been detailed of the place, the nature of the assignment and all his contact details to enable them trace his whereabouts and douse the tension created by such rumours.

“Members of the press, in line with the internationally accepted standards that a person cannot be declared missing until after 48 hours and because the rumours started this morning we shall address you properly very soon on the matter.

“However, the essence of this is to keep you informed on the situation, by tomorrow (when) the picture will become clearer.”

Meanwhile activities continued in Kaduna but some government officials were seen in groups discussing the sad development.

Yayok’s house in Banawa, Kaduna, is currently being guarded by men of Operation Yaki, a special security outfit, and other security agencies.

Speaking on the issue, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Emmanuel Ojukwu, said that the SSG had gone out on Monday night to distribute his daughter’s wedding cards, but did not return.

The wedding is scheduled to hold on October 10.

He said that on Tuesday morning, some unknown callers called his family, claiming that they had kidnapped the SSG, and demanded for a ransom of N40 million.

The force spokesman, however, revealed that the police had spread their dragnet all over Kaduna State to track down the kidnappers.

According to him, “the police high command has ordered serious stop and search of vehicles in Kaduna while other searches are still going on.”