Nigeria - Kidnappers Demand $ 1 Billion For Finance Ministers Mother

Gunmen who Abducted 82 Years Old Mother Of Nigeria's Finance Minister Prof. Kanene Okonjo at their family home in Ogwashi uku, Delta state, are demanding for a whopping $ 1 billion ransom.

Professor Chukwuka Aninshi Okonjo Agbogidi, the reigning Obi of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom was kidnapped Sunday at about 1:30 pm from the husband’s palace at Ogbe-Ofu quarters in Ogwahi-Uku by eight gunmen who stormed the palace in two Audi cars. 

Local online news agency Nigerianeye reported that the demand for a $ 1 billion ransom was relayed to the family of Okonjo this morning.

A finance ministry spokesman said Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had been threatened recently but did not know whether this was linked to the kidnapping.

Nigeria is one of the worst countries in the world for kidnapping, where it is a lucrative criminal enterprise.

Foreign media correspondent Will Ross says kidnappings are so common in the country that they rarely make front page news, but the 82-year-old Mrs Okonjo's abduction has attracted huge publicity.

Many businessmen, footballers and academics have been kidnapped for ransom in southern Nigeria in recent months.

In the past, only foreign oil workers used to be targeted, our correspondent says.