Mike Obi Narrates His Father’s Kidnapping Story; says He Paid ‘Crazy Money
Ex-Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has narrated his father’s kidnapping story, revealing he paid ‘crazy money’ before he could rescue him from his abductors.
The football star also disclosed in an interview with Dubai Eye 103.8 Sport, on how he was able to put aside the disturbing news of his father by leading the Super Eagles games against Argentina in Russia.
News reports in 2018 have it that four hours before the Super Eagles game against Argentina, Mikel’s father, Pa Michael Obi had been kidnapped along with his driver, Ishaya John, on the Markurdi – Enugu road.
But Obi who was initially confused and said he could not let 180 million Nigerians down, an act widely applauded and considered as a high-level of patriotism.
“I was emotionally distraught and I had to make the decision about whether I was mentally ready to play. I was confused. I did not know what to do but, in the end, I knew that I could not let 180 million Nigerians down. I had to shut it out of my head and go and represent my country first. I could not even inform the coaches or NFF staff and only a very tight circle of my friends knew.
“I was told that they would shoot my dad instantly if I reported to the authorities or told anybody. I also did not want to discuss it with the coach [Gernot Rohr] because I did not want my issue to become a distraction to him or the rest of the team on the day of such an important game. As much as I wanted to discuss it with the coach, I could not,”.
“They [the kidnappers] said listen, we know, it is Mikel he would pay. If he doesn’t, we are going to shoot his dad. They said they had nothing to lose. They would shoot my dad and dump him somewhere.
“It was horrible. After the game, I got back on the phone, tried to negotiate with them and spoke with them. They were calling some ridiculous amount of money for a start, and in the end, I still had to pay some crazy amount of money to get my dad out.
“Even now, I still go through it. Even when I got a flashback, I had to speak to the guys on the phone. There was a gunpoint at his head. They said they would shoot him, kill him. I have not told my kids about it, but a few months ago, they looked at my phone and saw the news about it. Obviously, I have not told them about it because they are young kids, 7 years, but one day when they grow up, I will be able to share the story with them,” he said.
The former Chelsea midfielder recalled how a family member had called and told him that he had to call the kidnappers on a designated number, which he did, and was ordered to pay a ransom while travelling on the team bus to the stadium in St. Petersburg.
Obi, however, said although he was distraught by the news, he had to put it aside and go ahead with the match.
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