Coach of Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles, Samson Siasia has raised alarm following the kidnapping of his 72-year-old mother in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to reports, unknown gunmen stormed the family residence of the Siasias in the early hours of Tuesday at Odoni community in Sagama Local Council Area of Bayelsa State and whisked away mother on the coach of Dream Team VI Eagles.
Siasia, who is currently on a training tour with the Eagles in The Gambia has expressed his devastation over the development back home. “Right now I am confused, from the story I got, three men on motorbike stormed my parents’ house in my village Odoni in Bayelsa State, shot sporadically into the air before taking my old mother away on a bike. What do they expect from me?”
He begged the kidnappers to let go of his mother, claiming that he has no money for ransom. “I don’t have money, I am right now on national duty, and need all the time to concentrate on this very important national task. So, I beg them to please release my mother so that I can concentrate on this task of qualifying the U-23 National Team for the men’s football event of the Rio Olympics,” the Coach begged.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has equally issued a statement appealing to the kidnappers to release the mother of the coach. “All we can do is to appeal to the kidnappers to free Samson Siasia’s aged mother. Samson is on a critical national assignment presently and the last he needs is this kind of distraction,” NFF president, Amaju Pinnick said in a statement.
“This is quite disturbing. We are just preparing for a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, and the U-23 boys are already in The Gambia for a pre-Cup of Nations training camp. Why this?,” Pinnick queried.
Bayelsa State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Ansinim Butswat, has confirmed the incident saying that the matter has been reported, but details were still sketchy as the kidnappers are yet to demand ransom from the family.
By Olisemeka Obeche