Source: Daily_Mail
John Mikel Obi pleads for information after dad is abducted in Nigeria
Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has appealed for information on the whereabouts of his father, who has been abducted in his native Nigeria. [LNB]Mikel played in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Stoke despite learning a day previously that his father had gone missing on Friday.[LNB] Mikel and his family are yet to hear anything regarding his father's whereabouts or who might have taken him, and he made a direct appeal for his father's release. [LNB] Playing on: John Mikel Obi lined up for Chelsea knowing about his father[LNB]'Please just let him go,' he said. 'He's just an old man, he hasn't done any harm to anyone as far as I know and I don't know why he has been taken.' [LNB]Michael Obi, who runs a transport company, has not been seen or heard from since he failed to return home from work in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria. [LNB] With no contact made and no ransom demand yet received, Mikel is seeking information and help from anyone who can provide it. [LNB]'Nigeria is the country I am from, I've always tried to help my country in any way I can, playing for my country or anything,' he said. [LNB]'This is a time where I need the country to help me. Whoever has got my dad, whoever knows where my dad is, please contact me and hopefully he can be released.'[LNB]Mikel was told about the situation by Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and his own agent after training on Saturday, and turned out at Stoke with only one of his team-mates - Salomon Kalou - aware of the situation. [LNB]'I was actually in having a massage when the manager sent for me,' he said. 'I went to his office, he said, "There is a situation, your dad is missing". [LNB] Proud: John Mikel Obi representing Nigeria[LNB]'I didn't know about it, obviously. My family didn't want to tell me until after the game.'[LNB] Mikel said he asked for time to absorb the news but he told Villas-Boas he still wanted to play. [LNB]'I was shocked,' he said. '(Villas-Boas) asked me what I wanted to do, did I still want to go to the game. I told him I needed a couple of hours to speak to my family and my agent. [LNB]'I told him I would like to play the game because I wouldn't want to let my team down, let the club down and obviously let my family down. I think if I didn't play that game, my mum would be very sad with me. I spoke to my mum before the game and she told me to go out there and be strong. [LNB]'I don't think my team-mates really know about it at the moment,' he added. [LNB]'I told (Didier) Drogba about it and before the game I told Kalou because he is a very good friend. [LNB]'But I didn't want everyone coming to me saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry". I just wanted to get on with it.'[LNB]Mikel, 24, was born in Jos and expressed surprise that an incident like this had occurred in the town, saying that, although his fame makes his family a target, abductions are uncommon in that area of the country.[LNB]'I think this happens a lot in the eastern part of Nigeria, but I think my dad will be the first this happened to in the north," he said."It's a very safe place where I live. That's why they live there. There has never been a situation like this. It is very rare and surprising everyone.[LNB] Tough job: Andre Villas-Boas had to break the bad news to John Mikel Obi[LNB]'We have lived there all our lives so I think definitely they know who my dad is and who his son is.'[LNB]Chelsea have offered Mikel their full support and it is not yet known whether he will be in the squad to face West Bromwich on Saturday.[LNB]However, Mikel did confirm that he would remain in England for safety reasons.[LNB]'I think it is safer for me to be here,' he said. 'I was told by my agent and security people to stay here until we get more information.[LNB]'I would like to go (back) and see my mum and my other brothers and sisters. If in the next 24 hours we get any information about where he is and what is happening to him, then we will know what we can do.'[LNB]Mikel is not the first Premier League player to have a family member abducted in Nigeria.[LNB]In July 2008 the elder brother of Everton defender Joseph Yobo was kidnapped in Port Harcourt.[LNB]Nornu Yobo was released after 10 days but it was never made clear whether a ransom was paid.[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEChelsea star Mikel plays on despite his father being abducted in NigeriaTorres is on the verge of hitting top form, warns Cech despite another blank at StokeAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion [LNB]
