Siasia mother’s kidnap: Family decries neglect
Ten days after gunmen kidnapped Madam Ogere Siasia, mother of ex-international and current coach of the Nigeria Under 23 national team, Dream Team IV, Samson Siasia, at Odoni Community of Sagama Local Council in Bayelsa State, the family is yet to meet up with the demand of the kidnappers while they plead with the government not to abandon the family in its trying period.
According to a sibling of the coach, Dennis Siasia, the family is yet to hear from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Bayelsa State Government as well as the Federal Government on the fate of their mother as the kidnappers insist on a N60m ransom.
Contacted by Nation newspaper, Dennis said: “It is disheartening that the NFF has not deemed it fit to get in touch with the family since the incident happened last week. They were only talking to Samson, who is far away in Gambia for national assignment, and, for us, we think this is not the appropriate thing to do as this might distract the coach from doing his job. For now, it is only the family they are supposed to have contacted because the coach is not here and they just need to leave him to focus on his duty because if the team fails to qualify they will blame him.
“The last time we spoke to the kidnappers was on Saturday, when they said they would bury Mama if we failed to meet their demand and we told them that we don’t have the kind of money they are requesting for as we were only able to raise N600, 000, from their voice, they were angry. As at this morning (Tuesday) they have not called and we have not heard from them. Although we spoke to Mama and I think she is okay.”
The younger Siasia, however, acknowledged the efforts of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) since the incident occurred. “I must tell you that the CP and DSS Director have been working with the family on this and this has been how far we had gone. I must let them realise that Samson has served this country as a player, and now he is a coach on national assignment in Gambia and I don’t think he needs any distraction for now in Gambia.”
Last Monday, three gunmen abducted Mrs Ogere Siasia at their family house in Bayelsa and whisked her away on a motorcycle.
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