Abductors of Chelsea star Mikel's father contact family

Defensive midfielder John Mikel Obi has played more than 30 times for Nigeria

Abductors of the father of Chelsea's Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi have made contact with his family.

Retired civil servant Michael Obi has not been seen since Friday.

But, on Tuesday, Obi's family had two calls from the abductors, who firstly told them that Michael had been moved out of Jos to commercial capital Lagos.

BACKGROUND ON MICHAEL OBI

A tyre repairer by trade, the elder Obi was a footballer in his teenage years at St Teresa's school in Jos. He had a stint with local side Gombe XI as he pursued a career in the game. But the 1967-1970 Nigerian civil war, in which members of his Igbo ethnic group abortively fought to secede from the rest of the country, halted his dreams. "When I was playing, there was no money," he told BBC Sport during his son's transfer ordeal in 2005, when he eventually joined Chelsea. "The most people could do for you is to buy a drink in appreciation of your performance"

With the abductors - who refused to say who they are or what their intent is - yet to make any demand, the family met police after this latest development.

In a second call a few hours later on Tuesday, the abductors gave the family the location of the car which Michael Obi was driving when he went missing.

The car was then found in Jos, but the Obi family refused to say where exactly it was recovered.

"Yes, they found his car and spoke with them which is a positive step forward," Babawo Muhamed, a close friend of the Chelsea player, told BBC Sport. "Hopefully, they will be in touch again. Mikel has been greatly affected by this. But he is holding on."

The latest development is likely to come as a relief for the concerned Obi, whose family held a prayer vigil at the family compound on Monday.

Police declined to issue a statement on the latest development.

Obi was told of his father's abduction before Sunday's goalless Premier League draw between Chelsea and Stoke City, but decided to play.

"I've always tried to help the country, this is the time for the country to help me," Mikel said on Monday.

"Whoever knows where my dad is should please contact me."

still in need of some information? search this site:

LOVE THE ARTICLE ABOVE?
Receive Updates: subscribe to Imo Herald in a reader or sign up for Free Email Updates