Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi said the insecurity in the country is “scary” after his father was kidnapped for the second time in seven years.
Mikel Obi and his driver were abducted at gunpoint on 26 June but were released on Monday.
Mikel reportedly paid a ransom of 10 million naira (about £21,000) for his release, and his unhurt father is now recuperating with family.
Mikel was told of his father’s capture four hours before playing in Nigeria’s 2‑1 World Cup defeat by Argentina.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel, received a call from a family member while on the team bus to the St Petersburg Stadium, who told him he had to call the kidnappers on a designated number.
He did not confide in any of his teammates or the Nigerian Football Federation before the match because he didn’t want it to be a distraction.
It is the second time Mikel’s father has been kidnapped, with the first taking place in August 2011 while his son played for Chelsea.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner wants the government to do more in terms of general security.
[Source: BBC]
