Two Nigerian soldiers are accused of helping to kidnap the father of football star John Obi Mikel.

Police told reporters in the city of Jos Wednesday that the soldiers are among eight suspects in the case.

Mikel plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League. His father, Michael Obi, was kidnapped in Jos on August 12. The elder Obi was freed during a police raid in the city of Kano on Monday and reunited with his family the next day.

Officials say the kidnappers demanded a $4 billion ransom for Michael Obi's release, calling the sum “chicken change” for the athlete and his team.

The accused soldiers are part of a task force charged with maintaining order in Jos, which has experienced frequent religious violence.

Brigadier-General Rafael Isa said the case demonstrates that even the army is not free of criminal activity. He said the army takes the allegations seriously and is investigating the case.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria. But abductors typically target oil executives or oil workers in the Niger Delta region.