Yobo’s brother still held by militants - Player disappointed

09.07.2008

L-R: Chief Executive of Oceanic Bank
International Plc, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru
decorating one of the 30 newly-unveiled
players with Ambassador John Fashanu
at the unveiling of the 30 finalists for the
Football Challenge with Fash Reality
show, held on Tuesday in Lagos.ABOUT five-days after the kidnap of the elder brother of Nigeria footballer, Joseph Yobo, no one has come forward to claim responsibility or demand a ransom.

Edwin Norum Yobo was abducted by gunmen from a hotel in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt last Saturday evening.

Sources close to Yobo’s family have told the BBC that they are upset that no official comment has come from the local authorities to condemn the kidnap or to demand Norum’s release.

“It is a shame that no one has come out to say anything about this,” the source told BBC Sport on Monday.

“It could happen to anyone but the fact that no one has made any meaningful assistance to getting Norum is highly disappointing. “The entire family is disappointed and they wish for a quick solution to this.

Though relatives of the victim have declined to comment yet sources say Everton defender Joseph Yobo remains disappointed.

Last summer, Yobo set up the ‘Joseph Yobo Foundation’, which aims to assist the lives of under-privileged children from his home in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

The Super Eagle handed out 500 educational scholarship awards covering all levels of education including primary, secondary, vocational and university level, to pupils from the region.

He also visited three charity homes in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital where his foundation donated food, mattresses and around US$20,000 of funds for investment.

“Yobo is disappointed because he has done so much to help children from his community,” the source added.

“He has committed himself to charity homes and helping out several families in the region, yet his brother is now in captive.

“Only last week he met with top officials in the community to explain a new scheme in re-directing the focus of aggrieved youths.

“People look up to Joseph for help, now he is seeking for a stronger help to get his brother out – so where does he turn.

“He is prayerful and hoping that his brother will come home safe and unharmed” Although the bulk of the oil comes from the Niger Delta, where the Yobos come from, the region remains deeply impoverished.

Kidnappings - more often of oil workers - have become a common occurrence in the south of Nigeria. Victims tend to be released after a ransom is paid, yet Yobo is proud of area of his birth.