Pictures of Mikel Obi's father's kidnappers

About 2 weeks ago, the father of the Super Eagle and Chelsea FC star was kidnapped. This kidnappers (who were 6 in number including a lady) were recently nabbed by the Nigerian Police. Two of the kidnappers who are soldiers would be court martialled this week. The kidnappers' photos are shown below. 

Here are their names in full. Nkechi Ossai, Ifeanyi Essien, Jacob Cowen, Ndubusi Friday, Basil Chukwuma and Sule Ibrahim.

Mikel Obi's father found alive and freed in Kano

Police spokesman Olusola Amore told The Associated Press that investigators followed Michael Obi's trail from central Nigeria's Plateau state to Kano, one of the nation's largest cities. There, officers raided the area where Obi was held, freeing him and arresting a number of kidnappers, Amore said.

Amore said he had other details about the operation on Monday night.

Michael Obi was kidnapped on Aug. 12 while on his way home from work in the central Nigerian city of Jos.

Officers raided a neighbourhood in the Nigerian city Kano on Monday where they found Michael Obi and arrested five suspects.

Obi was kidnapped on 12 August as he travelled home from work in the city of Jos, around 200 miles away from Kano.

He told reporters: "I started begging them but they beat me mercilessly. They kept me in a terrible place."

The BBC's Yusuf Ibrahim Yakasai said Obi's face showed signs of the beatings that he says he endured during his ordeal.

"I was taken right deep into the bush, in an isolated area in Jos", Obi said.

"There are five of them and they were dressed in military uniforms. They pushed me into a vehicle painted in military colours and began to drive very fast. I never knew a vehicle can fly like that."

Mikel's management company Sport Entertainment & Media Group (SEM) said in a statement: "Earlier today Michael Obi called his family to advise them that he had been released by his abductors.

"John Obi Mikel would like to thank everyone in Nigeria, his family and friends, Chelsea FC and their fans and his agents for their total support during this terrible time."

During the time of his father's disappearance, Mikel continued playing for Chelsea - starting matches against both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.

On Friday, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hailed the "amazing mental toughness" shown by the midfielder in the wake of his father's kidnapping.

A Chelsea statement said: "Mikel has shown outstanding commitment and professionalism during this most difficult of times, and the club will continue to offer its full support to him and his family."

It isn't the first time a football player's family has been targeted in Nigeria. In 2008, gunmen abducted the younger brother of Everton defender Joseph Yobo as he left a nightclub in Port Harcourt, the delta's largest city. The brother was released unharmed about two weeks later, though it was unclear if a ransom had been paid.

Michael Obi's abduction came after a Forbes magazine survey in June listed Mikel as the seventh highest-paid African player in Europe. The magazine listed Mikel's salary as $5.8 million a year.

Mikel begs kidnappers: Let my dad go - he's an old man

Distraust Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has pleaded with the gang who snatched his dad in Nigeria to free him.


The 24-year-old midfielder told of his shock at hearing Michael had vanished after leaving the ­transport company he runs on Friday. There has been no ransom note and no one has made contact with the player or his family since his kidnap.


Mikel, who at the weekend played for the Blues despite the anguish of knowing Michael was missing, looked ­devastated as he said: “Whoever has got my dad or knows where he is, please contact me and hopefully he should be released.

“He’s an old man and hasn’t done any harm to anyone as far as I know. I have always tried to help the country in every way I can, playing for the country, serving the country. This is the time for the country to help me in this situation. “This is still a shock to me and my brother, we can’t believe it and we don’t know what to do.”


Kidnapping is common in Nigeria. Targets are usually relatives of the rich or western oil workers, snatched and held to ransom. Michael vanished in Jos – a city Mikel insists is not normally associated with abductions.


The £70,000-a-week Nigerian ­international, said to be the seventh highest-paid African player in Europe, added: “It is normally safe in Jos and this is very rare. My family have lived there all our lives and the kidnappers will know who my dad is and who his son is.”


Mikel said he took the agonising decision to play in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Stoke on Sunday after his mum begged him to.


“It was very ­difficult," he added. "The manager asked me how I felt and I said I didn’t want to let my team down, the club down or my family. “If I didn’t play I think my mum would be very sad with me. I think I made their day by playing. I spoke to my mum before the game and she said to be strong and do make sure I do well in the game.


“My team-mates didn’t really know. My family didn’t want to tell me about my dad. They wanted to wait until after the game but the manager had to tell me, he said I had to know.” Mikel’s agent, John Shittu, praised his courage for playing against Stoke. He said: “He is totally devastated. We were not sure whether to tell him before the game".But after speaking to manager Andre Villas-Boas and sporting director Mike Emenalo we agreed he had a right to be informed of such a serious incident. He was under a lot of stress but he showed a lot of character and mental strength to play. It’s been tough for the young man. The family in Jos reported his dad missing at the police station as expected but we’re taking all necessary measures to find him. “We’ve told him to be brave and to stay calm.”


Police in Nigeria have told Mikel, who has won 30 caps for his country, not to return to Jos over fears for his safety. Plateau state police ­commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni confirmed Michael had disappeared but said there were no further details. He added: “We are still searching to find his ­location.”


Chelsea said yesterday: “Everyone at this football club was very concerned to hear that John’s father has been reported as missing and possibly abducted. “We will give Mikel and his family our full support at this difficult time.” Mikel’s representatives Sport ­Entertainment and Media announced the news of the kidnap. The agency said: “Thus far no ransom demand has been received.”


Kidnappings are common in Nigeria, with the families of footballers targeted because they are rich. It is in the oil-producing Niger Delta in the south where the majority of abductions for ransom occur.
The older brother of Everton star Joseph Yobo was kidnapped there in 2008. Nornu was freed after 10 days but it is unclear whether a ransom was ever paid. Several Brits have been snatched in recent years including construction and oil workers

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