Three weeks after a director in Dangote group, Pade Ojoodide, was kidnapped on April 24, by gunmen on Elele Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, there has been no news about his whereabouts.

His family members said Ojoodide, who was a Special Assistant to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, is a director in charge of sales for Dangote industries’ south-east operations.

Ojo0oide was reportedly abducted on the highway while he was returning from Owerri, Imo State in his car.

The assailants, who were said to have been on his trail during the travel, shot and deflated two tyres of his car when it seemed impossible to intercept the vehicle.

They reportedly dragged him from the car and whisked him away, abandoning his vehicle on the spot.

Although the kidnap happened on April 24, at about 9pm, a source said quiet efforts were being made to manage the issue.

The source indicated that a ransom demand had been made by the kidnappers but the amount involved is unknown.

The source said, “He was kidnapped on his way from Owerri that day. It was the following day that the police recovered his car on the road with the two back tyres deflated.

“The kidnappers had already called in and demanded a huge ransom for his release, but an agreement has yet to be reached.”

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Omoni Nnamdi, confirmed Ojoodide’s abduction to one of our correspondents. He said operatives of the command had been making efforts to rescue the victim unhurt.

He said, “We are doing our best to ensure he is released unhurt, without paying any ransom. We have been careful not to engage them in order not to endanger the life of the hostage. We are doing our best to tactically and technically rescue him.

“Other regional managers of the company are here and all hands are on deck. Our men have been adequately mobilised to comb bushes for the assailants.”

Punchng