LAGOS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen in southeastern state of Anambra on late Tuesday kidnapped a leader of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party and immediately demanded a ransom of approximately 189,000 U.S. dollars (30 million naira), a terse statement by the political party said Wednesday.
The statement, signed by Lai Mohammed, the party's spokesperson, said Chudi Nwike, a vice-chairman of the ACN in Nigeria's southeast region was kidnapped by unspecified number of gunmen who contacted the victim's family to announce his abduction.
"We appeal to the security agencies to do everything within their power to ensure the safe release of Nwike, while assuring his family of our prayers and support at this very difficult time, " the statement said.
It added that members of the political party would do their best possible to make sure the abductee regains his freedom unhurt.
Nigeria is one of the countries in the world where kidnapping, which is a lucrative criminal enterprise worth millions of dollars a year, frequently occurs, becoming everyone's nightmare as people are being abducted even as they go about their businesses.
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