Finance minister's mother abducted - Nigeria

 

A senior Nigerian minister's mother was allegedly abducted from her residence by a gang of ten armed men, police said.

82-year-old Kanene Okonjo, mother of Nigeria's Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was kidnapped from the palace of the traditional ruler of the southern Nigerian town of Ogwasi Ukwu in Delta state, they said.

Okonjo is the wife of the traditional ruler of the town. Police spokesman Charles Muka said they arrested a man in connection with the case.

"The man was said to have informed the housemaid that he was in the palace to take the queen mother to somewhere in the town." he said.

Abduction of prominent personalities is common in southern parts of Nigeria with the kidnappers demanding for ransom a few hours later.