The security challenge in Borno State
assumed a bizarre dimension yesterday with the seizure of 92-year-old
elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, by four gunmen suspected to be
members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
Shetimma Monguno was the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum, Mines and Power, in the Gowon military government.
A massive operation was immediately launched by the State Government and the Joint Task Force (JTF) to rescue him.
A report last night said he spoke by phone with his first son, Abubakar Ali Monguno.
“The abductors got in touch and they put
my father through on the phone. He spoke to us and said that he was
fine. They made a ransom demand,” Abubakar told AFP but declined to give
a figure.
He was abducted as he left a mosque he built in Mafoni Quarters close to the palace of Shehu of Borno in old Maiduguri Area.
The gunmen asked those with Monguno to get out of his Peugeot car before seizing him.
Other residents and relatives said that
Monguno had stayed behind to greet well-wishers after prayers but was
attacked shortly after entering his car.
A source said: “Although Monguno lives close to the Government House in Maiduguri, he has a house and a mosque built by him.
“So, on Friday, he decided to worship in his mosque but was kidnapped after the Jumat service.
“I think the ex-Minister felt that
normalcy had returned to the area. That was why he went to worship
there. He has been doing that for a while in order to meet with extended
family members and preach peace.
“Monguno has been attending Friday
prayers at his former residence in Mafoni, an area believed to have a
high concentration of the sect members.
“During the 2009 crisis, the sect
mounted road blocks in some parts of Maiduguri including Mafoni. Though
Monguno moved to the GRA years ago, he maintained close contact with the
extended family , family friends and neighbours while he lives in
Mafoni. He has offered so much help to residents there through his
charity works.
“He has over 100 children named after
him on account of his generosity. Governor Shettima regularly goes to
greet Monguno at his residence almost on a monthly basis.
“Monguno is chairman of the Borno
elders’ forum. Metings are mostly held at his residence and he has
remained the face of Borno for many years.
Asked what he suspected to be the motive
for the kidnap, the source said: “The sect perhaps realised how
important Monguno is and hence could attract high ransom in exchange for
his release.
“We are hopeful that the sect members
are not likely to hurt the old man, more so since he has constantly
advocated a peaceful resolution of the crisis and publicly called them
sons of Borno parents while he regularly appealed to them to stop
violence in the interest of poor persons who suffer as a result of the
crisis.”
Governor Kashim Shettima is said to be shocked by the kidnap.
He summoned a meeting of Borno elders to review the situation.
The source said: “Governor Kashim Shettima was obviously shocked and emotionally disturbed on receiving the news.
“The governor had just returned from the
Jumat prayers himself and was scheduled to visit the Borno State Radio
and Television House to inspect the station and interact with the
management and staff of the station to mark the World Press Freedom Day.
But the visit had to be cancelled because of the incident.
“A visibly worried Shettima was in tears
yesterday. The Governor wondered why a 92-year old man who had
dedicated his life to helping orphans, indigent widows and vulnerable
children in the society, offering scholarships to children for even
Islamic education, building Islamic schools, feeding the poor and even
advocating for peaceful negotiation and amnesty for the sect’s members
would be so treated.
“Shettima immediately called members of
the Monguno family and his security details to get first hand
information on what happened. He thereafter started calling security
chiefs and elders from the state and mobilised them for an emergency
meeting that was to hold at the residence of Monguno a few metres away
from the Government House.
“The meeting was aimed at making
consultations to find a way of ensuring that Monguno was released
urgently. He is optimistic Monguno will regain his freedom.”
Another source said the governor had
reached out to some people believed to be able to facilitate access to
Boko Haram. One of such is Barrister Aisha Wakil, with whom he has been
working in the last two years to find ways of negotiating with the sect
members.
Mrs.Wakil is a member of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue with Boko Haram.
“The Governor is trying to establish the
faction of the sect involved in the kidnap to know the appropriate step
to take. He prefers persuasion as the number one option. I think he is
likely to pass the same message to security officials so as not to
jeopardise the old man’s safety,” the source said, adding: “the kidnap
is likely targeted at a heavy ransom as the sect members are believed to
have devised means of kidnapping persons, demanding ransom to finance
their activities.
“ The JTF, a few days ago, issued a
statement warning that the Boko Haram members have perfected a strategy
for kidnapping for ransom to fund their activities.”
Monguno was among Borno elders who asked
President Goodluck Jonathan to grant amnesty to Boko Haram members and
withdraw soldiers from the streets in the state as part of the effort to
restore peace to the area.
An educationalist, Monguno is a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
He attended Monguno Primary School;
Teachers’ College, Bauchi; Katsina College of Arts, Science and
Technology Zaria; Moray House College of Education and University of
Edinburgh.
He was education secretary and
councillor for education, works and social welfare, Borno Local
Government 1959-65; Federal Commissioner for Air Force and Internal
Affairs 1965-66; Federal Commissioner for Trade and Industries 1967-71
and Minister of Mines and Power 1971-75.
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