British and Nigerian football player John Obi Mikel has appealed for the safe return of his father, who went missing in central Nigeria last week.

Michael Obi, who runs a transport company, was last seen Friday in the city of Jos.

Representatives for Mikel, who plays for the Chelsea football team, said Monday the father has been kidnapped.

In an interview with Britain's Sky Sports News, the 24-year-old Mikel asked that whoever has his father or knows where he is to contact him.

Mikel was informed of his father's disappearance on Saturday, but went on to play in his team's match in the English Premier League the following day.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, but abductors usually target oil executives and workers in the country's restive south.

In 2008, the brother of another British Premier League player, Joseph Yobo, was abducted in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. He was released days later. It is not clear if a ransom was paid.