Nigerian Gov’t Wants Abduction of CBN Governor’s Wife Hidden From The Press, In A Bid Not To Scare Investors

Kidnappers who abducted Margaret Emefiele, wife to sitting Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, are demanding N1.5 billion for her release.

Mrs. Emefiele was abducted yesterday along the Benin-Agbor Road and her captors have been in communication with Mr. Emefiele. SaharaReporters has learned that in addition to Mrs. Emefiele, four other people were abducted including two other females, a male, and her driver.

It has also been learned that Mrs. Emefiele had a four-man police detail attached to her. However, when the police were confronted with the superior firepower of the kidnappers they ran away, leaving her and the other victims in the hands of the criminals.

Since her abduction, the kidnappers have been in constant communication with Mr. Emefiele, his representatives, and police negotiators. They are reportedly discussing the N1.5 billion ransom demand.

CBN is attempting to keep details of Mr. Emefiele wife’s abduction hidden from the media because it may scare off investors in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, NewsWireNGR reported that the Nigerian police has said it is not aware of the abduction of Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Mrs Margaret was abducted along the Benin-Agbor Road by heavily armed kidnappers on Thursday.

When contacted the Delta state police spokesperson Superintendent Celestina Kalu said the Command is not aware of the Kidnapping.

Also, attempts to reach the Police Force Spokesman DCP, Don Awunah to confirm the kidnapping was unsuccessful as his telephone number was unreachable

Mrs. Emefiele’s kidnap represents one of the most high-profile kidnap cases in 2016.

The kidnappers have made contact with their victim’s husband and demanded a huge sum in ransom.

Security experts described the abduction of the CBN governor’s wife as an embarrassment, noting that something must have gone wrong.

A former director, Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, stated that as a politically exposed person, Margaret must have had security operatives attached to her.

He wondered where the personnel were at the time she was abducted, noting that until the details of the incident came to light, it might be hard to know what transpired.

The lawyer urged Nigerians to take their personal security seriously.

Ejiofor said, “I don’t know the circumstances around her abduction, but this is one of the highest profile kidnap cases in recent time.

“How can the wife of the CBN Governor, with all these security challenges be kidnapped? We need the details. Was any security operative attached to her?

“As the wife of the CBN governor, I expect she would need some protection. Until I get the details, I can’t talk much, but I believe something has gone wrong, which is very embarrassing.”

Another security analyst, Ben Okezie, also observed that something must have gone wrong with the security operative(s) around Margaret.

He expressed confidence that the kidnap victim would be rescued and prayed for her safety.

“We pray they did not do anything evil to her. This should signal top people that their security should be guaranteed because they are important to Nigeria,” Okezie said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, did not pick repeated calls made by one of our correspondents to his mobile telephone.

When a text message was sent to him, requesting for comments on the kidnap of Margaret, his response was “I am sorry, not at this time.”

When contacted on Friday evening, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, Stephen Onwochei, told our correspondent to call back in 20 minutes.

But he did not pick subsequent calls made to his telephone.

He also did not respond to a text message sent to his telephone number as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Iheanacho, said that he was not aware of the incident.