Alison-Maduke’s Sister, German National Regain Freedom from Kidnappers

The kidnapped sister of the Minister of Petroleum Resources Osio Agama, who was abducted last week in Port Harcourt, has regained her freedom following a joint operation by security forces.

“Osio Agama has been safely rescued during a joint operation by the police, military and SSS (State Security Service),” Rivers state police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad told AFP.

Muhammad said two suspects had been arrested over the October 21 abduction of Agama, whose sister Diezani Alison-Madueke is the petroleum minister.

Muhammad did not say if ransom was paid for the release, the latest targeting relations of prominent Nigerians in recent months.
One of the most prominent cases came in December 2012, when Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's 82-year-old mother Kamene Okonjo was abducted from her home, in neighbouring Delta State.

Okonjo-Iweala and Alison-Madueke are widely seen as the two most powerful members of President Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet.
Jonathan's 70-year-old uncle was also kidnapped earlier this year in Bayelsa State, also in the Niger Delta.

Some have sought to attach a political motive to attacks targeting Nigeria's most powerful families.
In a related development, a German national who was kidnapped by gunmen last week in Sagamu, Ogun State, has been released, Julius Berger confirmed yesterday.

“Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is pleased to officially announce the release of the company’s member of staff, who was abducted in Ogun State on 24 October 2014,” a statement from the firm said.
“The company would like to thank all those who assisted in achieving a swift and safe release, especially government authorities and security services.”

Ogun State police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said the hostage was “rescued” yesterday, but the security services have previously claimed successful rescue operations even when ransoms were paid.
The company provided no details on the release but said last week that the employee was kidnapped in an attack which left another German national dead.

Four gunmen emerged from the bush and opened fire on two vehicles in which the two men were travelling.
The employee who died, a sub-contractor, died in hospital from a bullet wound while two other staff members were hurt.
Julius Berger confirmed that the group was moving in separate vehicles without security escorts to a quarry in Ogun State.