Phoenix Hotel in Minna: Proprietor kidnapped

The Police in the central Nigerian state of Niger on Tuesday confirmed the kidnapping of a hotelier, Mr Cletus Ojukwu, the Director of Phoenix Hotel Limited, Minna.

He was kidnapped  by armed men from his residence at Tunga area of the town.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bala Elkana, told newsmen in Minna that the victim was taken away on Sunday and that the police were doing everything possible to rescue him alive.

He said that the family of the victim was in touch with the kidnappers.

According to a family source who pleaded anonymity, the armed men numbering six, stormed the house located directly behind the hotel at about 8:30 p.m. and held everyone in the house to ransom before taking the victim away.

The family source told journalists that the kidnappers wanted to go away with the victim and his wife but the vehicle could not contain them hence they left his wife.

He said that the kidnappers have demanded N50 million ransom for his release, adding that the family was still negotiating with them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was the second case of kidnapping reported in the last three months in the state.

NAN recalls that the first case was that of Alhaji Umaru Nasko, an uncle to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, who was kidnapped from his residence in Nasko, Magama Local Government Area of the state and was later rescued in Kebbi State.