Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno

After three days of tension brought on by the abduction of Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, the elder statesman and former Minister of Petroleum Resources was Monday released by his abductors.

Monguno’s release by kidnappers coincided with the announcement by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Operation Restore Order, that it had caught three suspected members of the sect who allegedly killed the civil war hero, the late Major-General Mohammed Shuwa in November last year.

Monguno, an octogenarian and first black chairman of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was dropped by his kidnappers somewhere in Kirenoa about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, where he was abducted on Friday afternoon. Kirenoa is a border town with Niger Republic.

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima confirmed the release of the elder statesman.

It was gathered that the kidnappers might have yielded to several pleas by well-meaning Nigerians who had laid emphasis on his advanced age and delicate constitution in appealing for his release.

Though released early Monday morning, Monguno arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital at about 1 pm looking tired and worn out.

Visitors and well wishers, who had thronged his home, were barred from seeing him so he could get some rest.
Some of his children shed tears of joy at reuniting with the patriarch of the Monguno clan and perhaps the most respected Borno indigene alive today.

Shettima, who had been worried over the abduction of the elder statesman and had made several appeals for his release, told media men that no ransom was paid by either the state government or the Mungono family for his release.

In a related development, the JTF in Borno Monday paraded three suspected members of the Islamic sect alleged to have killed Shuwa last November in Maiduguri.

In addition, the task force Monday rescued the parents of the House of Representatives member, Hon. Mohammed Sanda, representing Kaga/Magumeri/Gubio federal constituency, from their abductors, also suspected to be members of the terrorist group.

The parents of the lawmakers, Alhaji Ummara Sanda Sheriff (85) and his wife, Mrs. Maryam Sanda Sheriff (70), were abducted on Sunday night in Ngamdu, a border town between Yobe and Borno States, but were freed from their captors at Zabarmari ward of the Jere council area of Borno State yesterday at 9 am. Ngamdu is about 100 kilometres west of Maiduguri.

The JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa told newsmen that all the suspects confessed to the killing of Shuwa on November 12, 2012 for an unspecified fee.

The spokesman, while describing how the suspects were arrested, said: “Sequel to Abdulkareem’s confession, four other members of the syndicate were identified and three of them arrested between January and March, 2013. One of the culprits is still at large.

“So far, the three arrested are Mustapha Umar (22), Goni Modu Lawal (22) and Goni Ali (Bakura Bama -20).”

He said: “Mustapha Umar was actively involved in the planning and execution of the plot that led to the killing of Major-Gen. Mohammadu Shuwa while the two others played various indirect roles.

“Both have confessed to being members of Boko Haram under the Gwange cell with Abdulkareem as their commander who they alleged received instructions directly from Abubakar Shekau (the self-acclaimed leader of the sect).

“They equally confessed to carrying out various attacks both on military and civilian targets including extorting about N20 million on two occasions from the late Alhaji Ibrahim Mai Sugar among others.”

On the rescue of Sheriff and his wife, the JTF spokesman said: “Based on intelligence, the Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order, intercepted and rescued the two kidnapped victims - one Ummara Sanda Sheriff and his wife Mrs. Maryam Sanda Sheriff from a six-man Boko Haram terrorist kidnapping gang.

“They were kidnapped on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Ngamdu village at about 10.15 pm. The village is a border community between Borno and Yobe States, about 90 kilometres from Maiduguri.

“The terrorists and the victims were heading towards Martai area in an old model Toyota four-wheel drive with registration number Borno XA 625 KGG when they were intercepted at Zabarmari area by the JTF troops on special operation about 30 kilometres from the Maiduguri metropolis. “The couple was successfully rescued by the JTF today Monday, May 6, 2013 at about 9.00 am. Mr. Sanda is 85 years and his wife Maryam is 70 years. They seem to be in good health.

“The following items were found in the recovered vehicle: one AK47 rifle and a magazine with 30 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition; seven assorted cell phones; six pairs of wrappers and a set of lady’s shoes; seven pieces of male cloth; three MTN SIM cards; two extra vehicle batteries; one identification card; two jacks; one mat; and two pairs of male shoes.”

The JTF spokesman restated the need for the public to be weary and security-conscious at all times. “Members of the public are advised to avoid or be very sensitive to strangers and friends that have not been in contact for a long time.

“Similarly, the public is warned to avoid isolated areas and shun meetings or gatherings organised through telephone calls or the social media.

“This advice is based on the intelligence available to the task force that Boko Haram terrorists have resolved to focus more on kidnapping than robbery. They believe that kidnapping is more lucrative, less dangerous and requires a short time to plan and execute.

“Consequently, a special kidnap squad has been earmarked and tasked by Boko Haram to kidnap persons who could be a relation, politician, businessman/woman, civil servants, traditional rulers and foreigners alike,” he said.

Meanwhile, the curfew on Yobe State was Monday relaxed by two hours from 8 pm to 7 am.

This was contained in statement by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Yobe State governor, Alhaji Bego Abdullahi.

He said: “Following an emergency security meeting with the Joint Task Force, police and other security agencies Monday (yesterday) at the Government House, Damaturu, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the review of the 13-hour curfew to 8 pm to 7 am daily, until the security situation improves further.”

Bego said the governor also commended the people of the state for their continued support and cooperation with security agents, who have been working round-the-clock to ensure that peace and security are restored in the state.

Gaidam reminded the public to continue to use the phone numbers provided by the JTF to report any suspicious movement in their communities and neighbourhoods.