Police rescue father of Nigerian player

Nigerian police said they have rescued the father of national soccer team captain John Obi Mikel after he was kidnapped for the second time in seven years. Mikel has been playing in the World Cup in Russia, although Nigeria failed to make it out of the group stage.

Police in the southern state of Enugu said in a statement they had rescued the father, named as Pa Michael Obi, along with his driver unhurt in the Egede-Udi forest at around 2.30 p.m. (1330 GMT) on Monday following a “gun duel”.

“They were rescued hale and hearty,” said the police in the statement, adding that both victims had been reunited with their families.

Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, the country’s oil production heartland which neighbours Enugu state.