Rivers Civil Servant’s Daughters Held For 12 Years Over N1m Ransom

Twelve years after the disappearance of his two daughters on farmland in Deeyor community, in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, a man, Rowland Monokpo, has said he believes they will return home someday.

Monokpo, a retired civil servant in a radio programme on Rhythm 93.7FM, Port Harcourt, monitored by our correspondent on Monday said his daughters were preparing to start university education when they were kidnapped in 2009.

He expressed sadness that the abductors refused to release his two children identified as Scholatica and Maryann, after he paid part of the ransom.

Monokpo said, “I went to Akwa Ibom State to buy palm oil. So, when I returned, I didn’t see them at home. Suddenly, I received a phone call that my two daughters were carried away on the farm.

“I reported the matter to the police when they (his girls) spoke to me that their condition was critical and they (kidnappers) were threatening to kill them if I did not bring N1m.

“I was able to raise N200,000, which I dropped at Kpopie Junction and they picked it.

“Since that time, I have not seen my two daughters till today. But I am still hoping in God that one day I may see my two daughters.”

He asked the police to reopen investigation into the case and unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of his children.

Monokpo also called on the Rivers State Government, civil society organisations and the international community to join him in the search for the girls.

While noting that he had been battling health challenges as a result of the incident, he said his daughters would have graduated from the university and done other things if they were not abducted.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, asked Monokpo to lodge a formal complaint to his office as he promised to look into the matter.