The wife of a retired director in the Delta State Post-Primary Education Board, Mr Emmanuel Ofobrukueta, who has been in captivity for three months, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in securing her husband’s release.
Ofobrukueta, 66, was abducted by gunmen on January 13, 2025, in front of his home in Mosogar, near Sapele, a day before he was scheduled to travel to Asaba to process his pension.
He retired from the Delta State Post-Primary Education Board six years ago.
In a Save-Our-Soul letter sent to the IG through a law firm led by Frank Tietie, his wife, Mrs Theresa Ofobrukueta, said the victim remains in captivity despite efforts by the Delta State Police Command and the payment of ransom.
“He has since been in the kidnappers’ den for the past three months despite efforts by the Delta State Police Command to rescue him,” she stated.
She told journalists in Sapele on Thursday that the kidnappers initially demanded N40m but later accepted N4.2m after negotiations.
The sum was paid on January 15, two days after the abduction, through a designated agent.
She added, “The family negotiated the ransom to N4.2 million, which was hurriedly raised and eventually paid to the kidnappers, through an agent on January 15, 2025.
“Despite the N4.2 million ransom payment, the kidnappers are yet to release my husband, as I am speaking with you.”
The woman pleaded with the police authorities to “wade in urgently by organising a special effort to unravel the kidnapping and the rescue of the victim.”
“The Delta State Police Command appears to be overwhelmed by the kidnappers in this case,” she added.
The letter by the family to the IGP partly read, “Some members of the victim’s family firmly believe that an analysis of his post-kidnap events, particularly the various twists and turns associated with the payment of ransom to the kidnappers just two days after the incident, along with the intelligence provided by a private tracking company, indicates that a possible network involving the victim’s close associates, including the ransom bearers and the actual kidnappers, is still working together to ensure that he remains kidnapped.
“It is upon the above conclusion that the family requests your esteemed intervention to organise a special effort by the Nigeria Police to unravel the kidnapping and ensure the rescue of the victim. The Delta State Police Command appears to be overwhelmed by the kidnappers’ tactics in this case.”