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Everton defender Yobo's brother kidnapped by gunmen

06/07/2008

The brother of Everton star Joseph Yobo has been kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria, according to local police.

Norum Yobo was seized at a hotel in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Saturday morning after a night out with friends.

Yobo was forced out of a car and taken by his capturers to an unknown location. No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom has been demanded.

Everton said it would do all it could to help Joseph Yobo, who is on holiday in Lagos.

"We have sent a couple of messages to Joseph offering any assistance that we can provide him," club spokesman Ian Ross said.

"He had been given leave to return late to pre-season training next week because of his international duties for Nigeria this summer.

"Obviously, this family misfortune means he will stay out there for the foreseeable future.

"We can only hope that Joseph's brother is released without harm."

Rivers State police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey said an investigation had been carried out at the hotel where Norum Yobo was captured.

"We have not heard anything yet from Mr Norum or the kidnappers but we will make a statement available as soon as we can establish contact with them," she told the BBC.

Kidnappings, which are frequent in the southern Niger Delta region of the country, have mostly ended with a ransom payment.