PICTURE: Nollywood actor, John Okafor (aka Mr. Ibu’s) wife, kids kidnapped

Posted by admin Arts/Culture & Entertainment, Headlines, Nollywood (Film Industry) Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Heavily armed men suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday night, invaded the Agbani Road, Enugu State home of top actor/comedian, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu and abducted his wife and three children.

The abductors who came in a BMW car later released two of his children, a boy and girl, but were still holding the wife and one of the sons as at the time of filing this report. Daily Sun gathered that the kidnappers who immediately opened a communication line with the popular entertainer’s family were demanding a N50 million ransom before those currently being held captive would regain their freedom.

Confirming the ugly incident, devastated Mr. Ibu from Nkanu, Enugu State, who spoke via phone, condemned the act and pleaded with the kidnappers to immediately release his wife and son without any further delay. “I was at an event yesterday in Enugu when I got a call that my wife and children had been kidnapped by some heavily armed youths. I was also told the abductors came to my house in a BMW car and started trailing my family members since morning.

They later released two of my children, a boy and girl, but are still holding my wife and one of my sons. They are demanding N50 million ransom. Where on earth will I get such a huge amount from? God in heaven knows I do not have such amount of money anywhere in this world,” lamented the star of several Nollywood films, in an emotion-laden voice.

Crestfallen Mr. Ibu, who equally told Daily Sun the abduction was immediately reported at the Enugu State Police Command, went further to blame some politicians, whom he accused of arming innocent, frustrated and jobless youths with dangerous weapons, because of their greed for power.

“If you ask me to comment more on this incessant issue of kidnapping, I will blame it on desperate politicians who are the ones arming these jobless youths. My family and friends are praying that God should touch the hearts of these kidnappers so that they can release my wife and son immediately without any harm or ransom. I also want to thank the Enugu Police Command; they have been of immense help since the kidnap took place.”

Hilarious Ibu, one of the leading names in the nation’s motion picture industry, joined Nollywood as a production hand, before hitting it big as a comic star. He’s well-travelled with over 100 hit films to his credit, among them the blockbuster comedy, Mr. Ibu. Also reacting, top Nollywood Director/Producer, Mr. Theodore Anyanji, condemned the act in its entirety and urged the kidnappers to immediately set free, “an innocent mother and her hapless son.”

-Sunwp_posts