The Nation Newspaper

Tag: abduct

  • Gunmen ‘abduct’ judges in Kogi

    Gunmen yesterday in Kogi State allegedly abducted two judges.

    The victims, Ali Okeme and Timothy Ali, were said to have been kidnapped at different locations.

    A source, who spoke with The Nation, alleged that four persons were kidnapped, including a retired judge and a retired director.

    While Justice Okeme was alleged to have been abducted at Ojuocha in Ofu Local Government while going for land (locus in quo) inspection, Ali was allegedly kidnapped on his way to a court in Ayingba, Dekina Council.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Willy Aya said the command was working to arrest the suspects.

  • Gunmen abduct NNPC chief in Kaduna

    Gunmen abduct NNPC chief in Kaduna

    An official of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr.Yusuf Abdulkadir, was at the weekend abducted by gunmen in Kaduna.

    It was learnt that he was kidnapped about 10 pm on Saturday from his home and taken to an unknown destination.

    According to a family source, the gunmen trailed him while he was returning home, “dragged him out of his car at gun point and whisked him away.”

    Information about the status of the man in the NNPC was sketchy last night, except that “he works at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, but on weekends, drives to Kaduna, where his family lives.”

    The source said the matter had been reported to the police.

    Spokesman Zubairu Abubakar could not be reached last night to comment on the incident.

  • Gunmen abduct Channels TV’s Imo reporter

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers yesterday abducted the Imo State Correspondent of Channels Television, Mr. Tope Kuteyi.

    Up till the time of filling this report, the whereabouts of the reporter, who was seized from his home on the Umuguma Specialist Hospital Road at 3 a.m, were unknown.

    The gateman at Kuteyi’s home, identified simply as Thomas, said eight bandits scaled the fence after cutting the electrified anti-burglary cables.

    Thomas said: “I was in the security room with my brother when someone opened the window and pointed a gun at us. The intruder ordered us to open the gate, but I refused. While I was arguing with him, I didn’t know that other members of the gang had climbed into the compound. They ordered us to lie down and they broke into my oga’s (Kuteyi’s) house. Then they brought him out.

    “After that, they entered the next bungalow and smashed the window glasses. The man there escaped through the back fence. But they took his car and drove away with my oga.”

    Also, the abductors, who reportedly spoke with a friend of the victim, have demanded N15 million ransom to free him.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the government was aware of the incident.

    The statement said: “The young man (Kuteyi) is only a reporter who could not be said to kidnap because of money. To us, those behind the kidnapping know why they decided to inconvenience the victim and his family. They must have done that to blackmail the state government, having been commended for fighting and reducing kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state to the barest minimum.

    “Those holding him should please release him to reunite with his family. A journalist cannot afford to pay any ransom. To us, he (Kuteyi) must have been a victim of mistaken identity.”

    The Zone C (Southeast) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday expressed shock over the abduction of Channels Television correspondent in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Mr. Tope Kuteyi.

    The reporter was allegedly kidnapped at 3am from his home in Owerri.

    A statement by the zone’s Vice President, Christopher Isiguzo, and Secretary, Kenneth Ofoma, described the abduction as condemnable.

    They urged the kidnappers to release the reporter immediately.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the kidnap of this innocent citizen and journalist.

    “Kuteyi is neither a politician nor a moneybag, nor a businessman. It, therefore, baffles the union as to why he should be the target of this dastardly act.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the abductors of Mr. Kuteyi to release him unconditionally without delay. We similarly call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of Kuteyi soonest, should his abductors hedge.

    “We regret that journalists, who are always at the forefront in the battle for social change, accountability, transparency in governance and social justice, should be made the victims of the vices they stand against.

    “Please, we plead with the abductors of our colleague to release him without further day!”

  • Gunmen abduct 85-year-old monarch in Bayelsa

    Gunmen abduct 85-year-old monarch in Bayelsa

    Gunmen yesterday struck in Bayelsa State and abducted the 85-year-old Paramount Ruler of Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, His Royal Highness Chief Benjamin Weke.

    It was gathered that the octogenarian was kidnapped at his residence in the state capital on Friday morning.

    A close family member told The Nation that the traditional ruler was notified of his impending kidnap in a warning letter 34 days before his abduction yesterday.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen sent a letter to the monarch on July 1, intimating him of their plan.

    She said:  “The gunmen were about four in number and they were heavily armed. They came around 1am and forced their way into the monarch’s home. The wife was the first to wake up. She later woke up his Highness.

    “They immediately seized him and took some money meant for the traditional marriage of one of his sons scheduled to hold today (Saturday).

    “They also beat up the wife who escorted them through the footpath behind his residence to the waterside where they escaped with a speedboat to an unknown location.”

    Confirming the incident, the Spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswatt, DSP, who regretted the incident, said the family could not make contact with the police until 5am.

    “The marine component of the police have been alerted and are combing the creeks to find their whereabouts ,” he said.

    It will be recalled that, a fortnight ago, two Chiefs from Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of the state, Chief Blessing Wagio and Chief Isaac Akono-Igolo, were kidnapped and a N50m ransom demanded for their release.

  • Gunmen abduct Akinruntan’s mother-in-law

    The mother-in-law of a paramount traditional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland in Ilaje Local Government Area, has been abducted.

    Mrs. Omogbene Adeborile, a septuagenarian, was said to have been kidnapped in her home at Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

    Sources said the gun-wielding hoodlums stormed the ancient town in a Toyota car and shot sporadically into the air to scare away residents before abducting her.

    Mrs. Aderibole is the wife of the Ward 2 Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Igbotako.

    A member representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Mike Omogbehin, said the hoodlums were unchallenged because they were armed.

    He called on security agents to help secure her release and redouble security in the area as the people now live in fear, coupled with the perennial outage.

    Police Commissioner Isaac Eke, who confirmed the report, said though details of information before him were sketchy, his men were on the trail of the kidnappers.

    He urged the residents, with information, to assist the police to facilitate her release from the kidnappers.

  • Gunmen abduct pastor from church 

    Some gunmen on Saturday evening abducted a pastor with Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) on IBB Way, opposite the Margaret Ekpo Airport in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Pastor Seyi Adekunle.

    The gunmen were said to have stormed the church when Adekunle and other pastors were preparing for the following day’s service.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said: “The five gunmen stormed the church at 8pm when the pastors were praying in the main auditorium. They shot sporadically into the air before bundling the pastor into their car. The abductors drove him away.

    “Normally, on Saturdays, we have a number of activities, but the pastors’ prayer session comes last. It was while the session was in progress the boys came in, shot into the air and took our pastor away.”

    It could not be established if the kidnappers have demanded for a ransom at press time last night.

    Police spokesman Hogan Bassey confirmed the incident.

    He said the command was working hard to ensure the pastor’s rescue.

  • Suspected gunmen abduct Bayelsa Speaker’s brother

    Suspected gunmen have kidnapped Iniokpoemi, the younger brother to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson.

    He was abducted about 3am yesterday.

    The incident occurred a few days after Florentina, the nonagenarian mother of Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni, the octogenarian uncle to the former Governor Timipre Sylva were kidnapped.

    The police and other security agents were still making efforts to rescue Adigio-Eseni and Paulker when the abductors of Benson struck at Korokorosei in Southern Ijaw Local Government.

    The hoodlums were said to have shot in the air before whisking away Benson, the immediate past chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA) in the area.

    The Speaker’s younger brother is the second victim of abduction in the Benson extended family.

    His 86-year-old mother-in-law, Ogboru Orumo Dark, popularly called Obololo, was in March kidnapped about 1am from her home in Seibiri compound in the same community.

    A source, who preferred anonymity, said the gunmen created panic through their gunshots.

    “They came on a speedboat, bundled him and ferried him away through the waterways. They must have taken him to the creeks,” the source said.

    Police Commissioner Hilary Opara confirmed the incident.

    He said: “We have got information on the incident. The District Police Officer (DPO) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police have briefed me. The good thing is that we know the direction the hoodlums took. So, we will arrest them and rescue the victim.”

    Opara said they were also working to rescue Paulker.

    “We have made progress in that incident. We arrested one of them within hours and the next day we apprehended three more suspects, who are helping us in our investigation.”

  • Gunmen abduct Dickson’s aide

    Gunmen abduct Dickson’s aide

    Unidentified gunmen yesterday kidnapped the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Power, Olice Kemenanabo.

    Kemenanabo was reportedly abducted at D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at 3.30pm by three gunmen.

    Sources said the special adviser was driving into his home at 12, Iriebe Street, D-Line, when the hoodlums struck.

    A top security source said the bandits ambushed their unsuspecting victim.

    The source said: “He was returning home from church but unknown to him, some gunmen had laid ambush for him.

    “He was taken away in his own car. The gunmen threatened to shoot him, if he raised the alarm.”

    Kemenanabo is also the Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company.

    An executive member confirmed the development. He said the matter had been reported to the police and the special adviser on Security.

  • Pirates abduct Indian sailors

    Pirates abduct Indian sailors

    Gunmen stormed a tanker ship off the coast of Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta, ransacking the vessel and kidnapping five Indian sailors in the latest attack targeting foreign workers in the volatile region, a shipping company said on Wednesday.

    The attack targeted the SP Brussels tanker as it sat about 40 miles (64 kilometers) off the coast of Nigeria’s Niger Delta, Medallion Marine said in a statement. The gunmen stole personal belongings on board the ship in the attack on Monday and kidnapped the sailors, the company said.

    Those remaining onboard later sailed the vessel safely to port in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, the company said.

    The Navy has ordered the arrest of the pirates who abducted the Indians.

    Director, Navy Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliu said the vessel was sighted at anchorage about four nautical miles off the Lagos Fairway Buoy.

    He said: “The Nigerian Navy has directed its operational base in Lagos, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT to investigate the activities of the ship and if under attack, arrest the pirates and rescue the crew and vessel.”

    “Medallion Marine have been working in close cooperation with the authorities, and everything possible is being done to ensure the safe return of those crewmembers taken from the vessel,” the statement read. “Nigerian naval vessels are assisting with this process.”

    The attack on the tanker came the same day gunmen abducted four South Koreans and a Nigerian working for Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. at a construction site in the Brass area of Bayelsa state. A South Korean Foreign Ministry official has said the victims were preparing the site for workers who would construct factories there.

    Typically, foreign companies operating in Nigeria’s Niger Delta pay cash ransoms to free their employees after negotiating down kidnappers’ demands. Foreign hostages can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece.

    Foreign oil companies have pumped oil out of the Niger Delta, a region of mangroves and swamps the size of Portugal, for more than 50 years.