Everton have offered assistance to Joseph Yobo after the defender’s brother was kidnapped at the weekend. Gunmen abducted Norum Yobo as he made his way home from the Illusion nightclub in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in Nigeria on Saturday night. Two other men taken from their car at gunpoint were released.

The Everton and Nigeria defender is on holiday in Lagos and was due to return to preseason training next week. “We have sent a couple of messages to Joseph offering any assistance that we can provide him,” Ian Ross, an Everton official, said. “This means he will stay out there for the foreseeable future. Things like this put football and life in perspective. The thoughts of the players, management, staff, fans and everyone connected to Everton FC are with Joseph and his family. We can only hope that Joseph’s brother is released without harm.”

Kidnapping for ransom has become common in the oil region, but no one has admitted the abduction.