Mikel family in dark over kidnap

16 August 2011 13:30

John Obi Mikel's brother admits he is still in the dark as to the whereabouts of their father, who has been abducted in Nigeria.

Michael Obi has been missing since he left work on Friday afternoon in the Nigerian city of Jos. On Monday, Chelsea midfielder Mikel gave an emotional interview in which he pleaded for his father's safe return after his management team issued a statement confirming the abduction.

Mikel's elder sibling, Nigerian Premier League player Ebele Obi, on Tuesday told Supersport.com: "We still have not heard anything from anybody. It is very, very sad. He went to work on Friday and we have not seen or heard from him since then."

He added: "He (Obi Snr) always drives himself to work and back. That fateful day, we were trying to reach him on his phones without any luck. The phones kept ringing but no one was taking the calls. After a while, the phones stopped ringing. That is the situation till this moment.

"We are doing all we can to get him back (but) unfortunately we have not heard anything from anyone and without information, it will be difficult for us to act."

Police in Nigeria have appealed for help in finding Mikel's father, who runs a transport company in Jos, but are yet to be contacted by the kidnappers.

Former Lyn Oslo player Mikel was clearly upset when he gave an interview to Sky Sports News on Monday in which he said: "Please just let him go. 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.

"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.

"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."

Mikel heard about his father's abduction on Sunday morning but still turned out for Chelsea in their 0-0 draw at Stoke later that afternoon.

Source: PA