Three days and several hours later, authorities are no closer to determining the whereabouts of Mohamed Hussein Ibrahim, the Iranian Director of the International Islamic College for Advanced Studies (IICAS), who was abducted around 10 pm on Friday outside the institution's premises.
Ibrahim's wife, Shahnaz, continues to pray for her husband's safety but told Stabroek News that she is very worried about him.
"If [his abductors] would just let him call and say he is okay, I would feel better," she said yesterday.
Shahnaz, who is in an advanced state of pregnancy, said some of their relatives from Iran have expressed the desire to come and stay with her but she was unable to confirm how soon this was likely to happen.
Who abducted Ibrahim?
Late Friday night, a group of gunmen dragged the IICAS director from his car, PJJ 509, after immobilising it with a few strategic shots. The abductors then proceeded to bundle Ibrahim, also called 'Sheik', into a dark-coloured car and raced away south along United Nations Place before heading east along Brickdam.
IICAS Administrator Raymond Halley was shot in his right instep.
The strategy employed in Ibrahim's abduction and the precautions taken to ensure no pursuit would follow point to a professionally executed job. Additionally, there has been no demand for ransom, according to Shahnaz.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Islamic Forum for Education, Peace and Religious Solida-rity (GIFEPRS) has condemned Ibrahim's kidnapping.
In a statement issued yesterday, the organisation pleaded for Ibrahim's release and noted that the Iranian's wife and unborn child are victims of undue stress as a result of the incident.
"As sons born of woman, and as fathers and even husbands, please release the man. Whatever the problem, we beg for his release. For the sake of Guyana, we beg for his release," the statement said. It added that Ibrahim's kidnapping and similar situations embarrass Guyana internationally, especially since the victim is not a Guyanese.
Stabroek News visited the IICAS yesterday and observed that it was almost deserted. One of two men wearing Muslim apparel told this newspaper the school would remain closed for a couple of weeks.
Shortly after the abduction occurred, police arrived on the scene and began investigations. Subsequently, it was revealed that the recently trained anti-kidnapping squad has been deployed to track down Ibrahim. But nearly four days later, authorities are still to come up with any information that could lead them to Ibrahim and/or his captors.