Kidnappers ask Mikel family for ransom

The kidnappers of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel’s father have announced a ransom demand of about 90,000 euros for his release.

Michael Obi went missing on Friday after failing to return from work in Jos, Nigeria, and his family have now been told that he has been transferred to the port city of Lagos.

Babawo Muhamed, a close friend of Mikel, told the BBC: “Hopefully, they will be in touch again. Mikel has been greatly affected by this. But he is holding on.”

Nigeria international Mikel has previously pleaded with the kidnappers to let his father go.

“I just want to say to whoever has got my dad to please just let him go. He’s an old man and he hasn’t done any harm to anyone as far as I know,” Mikel told Sky Sports News.

“I don’t know why he has been taken and my family, my mum especially, is very sad and devastated about the whole situation.”