By Ikechukwu NNOCHIRI, Abuja

The Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, BON, yesterday, insisted that the recent abduction of four of its members at Umuafor Ukwu in Obingwa, Abia State, was masterminded by yet to be identified unscrupulous politicians, even as it appealed to the kidnappers to release the victims unconditionally.

The leadership of the two unions spoke  in Abuja yesterday while inaugurating a new governing council for the International Institute of Journalism,IIJ.They maintained that the continued stay of their four colleagues in captivity five days after they were forcefully abducted by unknown gunmen, underscores the height of  insecurity   in the country.

The National President of the NUJ, Mr. Mohammed Garba, who was represented at the event by the Secretary of the NUJ Zone H,Mr. Gambo Yusuf, implored Nigerians to continue to offer prayers for the release of the four journalists, adding that the organization cannot afford the N30m ransome currently demanded by the kidnappers.

According to the NUJ leadership, “The continued stay of our four colleagues under captivity is a big embarrassment to the federal government and an indictment on security agencies in this country.”

“Though the kidnappers have slashed their ransome demand from N250m to N30m, we still don’t have such amount of money and has therefore resolved to abide by the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo not to offer money for their release.

“The bitter truth is that there are people among the big men that sponsor these kidnappers and it is not in the interest of this nation to say that some people have gone into hiding and could not be located after 5_days.

“The NUJ should not be seen as promoting negative vices, as paying the N30m ransom will mean that we are indirectly glorifying their action.
“We however appeal to the kidnappers to be godly and release them unconditionally, this is our position”.

In his own remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Mr. Bayo Ayotebi, maintained that the pervasive incidence of Kidnappings in the country calls for concern even as the 2011 general elections draw nearer.

The four journalists, Mr. Wahab Oba, Mr. Sylva Okereke, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo, Mr. Sola Oyeyipo and their driver Mr. Azeez Abdulrauf, were on July 11, kidnapped at Umuafor Ukwu in Obingwa, Abia State while returning from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State after a three_day National Executive Committee meeting of the NUJ.

Their abductors, who had hitherto demanded for the sum of N250m for their release, Thursday, reduced the amount to N30m.