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John Okafor alias Mr. Ibu

Nollywood star, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, has begged the kidnappers of his wife, Stella-Maris and son, Emmanuel Mandela Okafor, that he can’t afford the N50 million ransom they are demanding from him.

Mr. Ibu’s wife, son and two in-laws were kidnapped in Enugu State by some heavily armed masked men on Tuesday evening, but the two in-laws, a boy and a girl, managed to escape when the abductors abandoned them in a vehicle and left with Ibu’s wife and son in another vehicle.

The victims were attacked while driving in their Black Honda (End of Discussion)vehicle with registration number AQ 809 NNB.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS on phone this morning, Mr. Ibu said when the abductors attacked his family on their way home from the market, they locked one of his in-laws (a boy) in the boot, while the wife, son and the female in-law were in the car with some of the kidnappers.

“So when they got to a place, they dropped my wife’s car and drove her with my son in another vehicle. But they left the boy in the boot and the 15-year old girl in the vehicle.

“Right now, I’m just begging them to release my wife and son. My son is just a year and two months old. So, he is too young to be going through this,” Mr. Ibu said, adding that “the N50m ransom they are asking for is on the high side. Where on earth can I get such money?”

P.M.NEWS, however, gathered, that the kidnappers have slashed the ransom to N6 million as at the time of filing this report. And when Ibu was contacted again, he confirmed the latest development.

He said: “I’m currently talking to friends to see how I can raise the money. When they (the kidnappers) called me this morning, I pleaded with them that I can’t afford the N50 million, so they reduced it to N6 million.”

In 2007, Mr. Ibu was kidnapped on his way to a film location in Imo State, but was later released when his adbuctors compelled him to abuse former President Olusegun Obasanjo for neglecting them (the kidnappers).

“I did not hesitate to do that because that was the only way I can escape from their claws. In fact, after abusing Obasanjo in front of their camera, they gave me a gift of N100,000 because I did it in a very funny manner,” Ibu said.

— Bayo Adetu

Next June will mark 30 years since the first AIDS cases were diagnosed The moment brings not only an opportunity for reflection, but also for a renewed commitment from each of us to do our part to finally end the spread of this disease.

No matter how you look at it, through the lens of gender, sexual orientation, age, class, level of education or region of the country, Black people bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic in America today. Those are the facts

Thankfully, a growing number of organizations that recognize that ending AIDS is a year-long effort are slowly joining the effort. Today in The world, there's a beginning of a new era of engagement on HIV/AIDS. Now, 30 years later, the country is engaged again — with a national HIV/AIDS strategy, new scientific breakthroughs, and possibly a renewed sense of hope that, someday, we will be Greater Than AIDS.

I believe we — as individuals, as a community, as a nation, as a family — can be GREATER than AIDS. Last year, the Black AIDS Institute, together with our partners at the Kaiser Family Foundation, launched a national effort to mobilize Americans in response to HIV. Greater Than AIDS is about the role that each of us can play, including getting informed, getting tested, getting treated, and getting involved. By acting together, we can be Greater than AIDS. ·

The Falconets class of 2010 have made history by beating the USA and qualifying for a first ever semi-final in any FIFA organised women's competition.

The team trailed from a USA goal in the 9th minute but equalised spectacularly through Helen Ukaonu in the 79th minute to drag the match into extra time which did not produce any more goals.

In the ensuing penalty kicks, USA captain, Christine Nairn lost the USA's first kick and Sydney Leroux blazed their fourth kick over the bar to hand the Nigerian girls' victory 5-3. They will meet Colombia in the semi-finals on Thursday, July 29, 2010..