Borno Elders, security chiefs in emergency meeting over Ali Monguno’s kidnap

The governor said Mr. Monguno is 92-years-old and not 87 as reported earlier.

The Borno Elders led by Ambassador Gaji Galtimari are currently having an emergency meeting with the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, and security chiefs.

The meeting is about the kidnap of a former minister, Shettima Ali Monguno, who was kidnapped after the Friday Jumat prayers. The meeting is being held at the family house of Mr. Monguno adjacent the Borno Government House.

Mr. Galtimari, who is chairing the meeting, confirmed to reporters that Mr. Monguno was kidnapped as he was leaving the mosque.

In his reaction before the closed door meeting started, the governor said that it was “inhuman for anybody to kidnap a 92-year-old man,” indicating that Mr. Monguno is 92 and not 87 as earlier reported.

Mr. Shettima said he had spoken to President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, over the kidnap. He said it was only a “mad man that will harm an old man.”

Also attending the meeting is the State Director of the State Security Service, the State Commissioner of Police and all other security chiefs in Borno.

The house, which is surrounded by security operatives, is also filled with hundreds of sympathisers some of whom are shedding tears over the kidnap.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnap, although kidnapping for ransom by the Boko Haram has been on the increase in Borno and the Joint Task Force has also warned about it.