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Tag: Abductors

  • Osayomore to release ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’

    Osayomore to release ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’

    Edo ace musician and social critic, Osayomore Joseph, is set to release a new musical album detailing his experience in the den of kidnappers.

    The album is titled ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’.

    Read Also: Edo musician Osayomore freed by abductors  

    He was abducted by gunmen on October 3 and released on November 2.

    His wife was shot by his abductors who are yet to be arrested.

    He was said to have spent two weeks in intensive care unit after he was released.

    Osayomore looked pale and walked with the aid of working stick when he visited the State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, to hint him about the album launch on December 17.

    He said the album is to tell his story about how he was treated by his abductors.

  • Abductors of PDP chair demand N100m – Police confirm

    Abductors of PDP chair demand N100m – Police confirm

    Kaduna Police Command has confirmed that, kidnappers of former Minister of Sports and Plateau State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Damishi Sango, and four others have demanded for N100m ransom.

    This was coming even as Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim directed anti-kidnapping squad and other anti-crime teams to comb the bushes between Jos, Kaduna and Abuja and rescue the victims who were abducted by gunmen at Kurmi Jibril in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State on their to Abuja on Wednesday.

    Other persons abducted alongside the PDP Chairman are one of the party elders in Plateau State, Chief Emmanuel Mangni, Sango’s son, his driver and his police orderly.

    The Spokesman for the command, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu who confirmed this in Kaduna on Friday said, combined efforts have been intensified to rescue them from their abductors as soon as possible.

    According to him, “yes we are aware of the development but IGP has ordered the anti-kidnapping and other rescue teams to comb the bushes around Jos, Kaduna and Abuja for their rescue.

    “We are also aware that the criminals made contact, demanding for N100 million ransom before they could be released.

    “But the Police is working hard to make the country safer. We are recording successes in our fight against crime and there is always room for improvement which we are doing. We have mounted surveillance to rescue them. Members of the public should continue avail the police useful information that can lead to arrest of criminal elements in our society”, he said.

    The victims were said to have been traveling to Abuja in their private vehicle to attend the national convention of PDP scheduled to hold on Saturday when they were intercepted and abducted on the fateful day about 52 kilometers to their destination.

  • Abductors demand N80m to free Sen. Arise

    Abductors demand N80m to free Sen. Arise

    A former member of the National Assembly from Ekiti State, Senator Ayo Arise, was on Sunday evening seized by suspected kidnappers in neighbouring Kogi State.

    Arise, who represented Ekiti North between 2007 and 2011, was reportedly snatched between Okene and Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on his way to Abuja after attending some events in Ekiti State.

    A source told our reporter yesterday that the senator’s abductors had contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.

    Arise was reportedly abducted with his driver and taken to an unknown location.

    The politician is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of next year’s governorship poll.

    He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2015 general elections.

    His abductors, whose number could not be ascertained last night, were said to have blocked Arise’s Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    The Oye-born senator was said to have attended a ceremony at Ikere where chieftaincy titles were conferred on a former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Tunde Ogunsakin, and his wife, Chinyere, by the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu.

    He reportedly played golf, his favourite game, at the Ado-Ekiti Golf Course on Poly Road before retiring to his country home for political meetings with his supporters.

    An aide to the senator, who spoke in confidence said: “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.

    “When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6 p.m. So, the kidnap must have taken place around 7 p.m.

    “They (abductors) have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80 million ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.

    “The family is working hard to secure his release. We have contacted relevant agencies, including the police, to come to our aid.”

     

     

  • Militants, vandals surrender arms in Ondo

    Militants, vandals surrender arms in Ondo

    Militants terrorising parts of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states submitted their arms on Monday evening to embrace Federal Government’s Amnesty programme.

    The militants were said to be behind the abduction of six Senior Secondary School (SSS)m pupils of Lagos Model College at Igbonla, near Epe in Lagos State; Arepo pipeline vandalisation and several attacks in the riverine areas of Ondo State.

    The militants were led by Ogailo Iborry Young (aka O.C) to the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre in Ajapa community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    They willingly dropped their arms and other weapons.

    The event, witnessed by Deputy Governor and Chairman of Ondo State Amnesty Committee, Agboola Ajayi, representatives of Delta State government, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base at Igbokoda, Navy Captain Usman Yahaya, among others, was seen as the solution to restoring peace in the riverine area.

    Some of the surrendered arms include Browning wz machine gun, Daewoo K3, Colt automatic rifles, general purpose machine gun, Breda 30, Fiat Revelli modelling, AK-47 rifles, rocket launcher, CETME Ameli, Heckler & Koch MG4, pump action and some automatic cartridges.

    Also, the repentant militants surrendered military uniforms, police bulletproof vests, dynamites, grenades, bombs and helmets.

    Iborry Young expressed appreciation to the state and the Federal Government for the fresh Amnesty initiative.

    The militant leader traced the source of their arms to the Ijaw/Ilaje crisis of 1998/1999, blaming it on joblessness, poverty and government neglect.

    He said: “If we may be asked our reasons for embarking on this struggle, our simple assertion to the public and other concerned authorities is that it is joblessness, suffering, poverty, oppression and neglect by the government.”

    Iborry said the militants dumped their oil bunkering business and hatched another game plan to attract the attention of the government.

    He said: “As it got to this point, we did not find life very easy. Thus, we relocated to Ogun State where the Government College at Igbonla, near Epe school boys were kidnapped. Their release led to the present arrangement through the courageous efforts of the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states.

    “We did not kidnap these boys for mere ransom but to negotiate our freedom and full reintegration into civil life.”

    Ajayi said the amnesty was impressive as sophisticated ammunitions were surrendered.

    The deputy governor assured the repentant militants of Federal Government’s readiness to provide job and education programmes, among others, to the repentant militants for them to be self-reliant, if they embrace peace.

    He rejoiced with residents of Ajapa community for the restored peace in the community after years of face-off between them and the military.

    Also, Navy Captain Yahaya said the exercise in Ajapa community was more impressive because of the record of the exercise since it started.

    Five militant groups – the Awaja, Ogoolorunyo (led by Job), Ebie, Dragon and Atupa – had submitted their arms to embrace the Amnesty programme.

  • Edo musician Osayomore freed by abductors  

    Edo musician Osayomore freed by abductors  

    Edo ace musician and social critic, Osayomore Joseph, was yesterda freed by his abductors.

    He has been in captivity since October 3.

    His wife, who is in hospital, was shot the day he was kidnapped.

    Confirming his release, his eldest son, Osayomore Joseph Jr, said the family was making arrangements for a medical check up.

    He said: “My father has been released, but he is not too healthy. So, he is in hospital. It has not been easy for us, but we thank God he has been released. We are trying to give him the best medical care he deserves.

    “He is in hospital. It is our prayer that everything goes well so, he can rejoin his family in good health because we have really suffered. It has been traumatic for us. It is not a good situation you can wish for your enemy. We thank God he is free and alive.”

  • ‘We are still negotiating with my father’s abductors’

    ‘We are still negotiating with my father’s abductors’

    One of the  sons of Edo ace musician, Joseph Osayomore, who was abducted on September 28 has said that the family was still negotiating with the abductors.

    The son identified as Oriri took to his facebook page on Sunday to give update about the condition of his father.

    He said they have spoken to his father and he seemed to be in good condition.

    According to the facebook message, “Thanks to everyone for reaching out to us. As of today OCT 14 9pm Nigerian time, Epa(Osayomore Joseph) has still not been released.

    “We have contact with him, he is fine. We are still negotiating his release Ransom. Thank you for all the encouragement, it is helping the family go through this trying period. We are Looking forward to great news in the coming days. Keep the prayers coming. You can always send me a message to confirm any news about Epa on this platform. Thank you, No weapon formed against us shall prosper.”

  • Suspected abductors kill policeman, two others

    Three persons, including a police officer, were reportedly killed last weekend by suspected kidnappers on Ajaokuta-Lokoja highway in Kogi State.

    Others sustained injuries.

    Sources said an expatriate, a worker and a policeman were killed by gunmen, adding that an officer was injured after a shootout in Ajaokuta Local Government.

    The Nation learnt the expatriate was travelling with one of his workers (a driver) when they ran into the suspected abductors.

    The hoodlums were said to have shot the expatriate, his driver and a policeman, killing them.

    It was gathered that in an attempt to escape, the kidnappers engaged other policemen in a shootout.

    Police spokesman William Aya, who confirmed the incident, said the command had begun investigation.

  • We’ll make abductors of Lagos school boys give up arms, says Akeredolu

    We’ll make abductors of Lagos school boys give up arms, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said yesterday that he would work to ensure ttat the abductors of Lagos school boys dropped their arms.

    He also confirmed that he promised the kidnappers of  inclusion in the Federal Government amnesty programme.

    He spoke in an interview programme on an Ibadan-based radio, Fresh FM at the weekend.

    Akeredolu explained that as soon as the Federal Government hinted him that the children were hidden somewhere in the creeks of Ondo State, he assigned his deputy, who hailed from a riverine area of the state, to find means of opening discussions with the abductors.

    On successfully establishing contact with them after risking his life, the governor recalled that he joined in the discussion to know the motive of the abductors.

    According to him, the militants complained that they were excluded in the amnesty programme launched for all militants in the Niger Delta.

    Akeredolu said he promised them that he would  intimate the Federal Government of the need to include them in the programme. He said the government did not pay ransom to secure their release.

    The governor said he, however, made them realise the danger of criminality.

    He said the militants expressed trust in his administration to right the wrongs of the past.

    “My deputy did a yeoman’s job and started a discussion with the abductors. We made them realise that they may have their problem with the government but we told them that we will report that to the Federal Government. People repose a lot of trust in our government. They have implicit trust in us. The young boys (kidnappers) have trust in us. We promised them we would persuade the Federal Government to include them in the amnesty programme.  We did not pay any ransom. We will work with the Federal Government to make them surrender their arms,” Akeredolu said.

    Akeredolu also acknowledged that there is division in the All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing out that the party is so big that all members can not always agree. He stressed that it is part of the beauty of democracy.

    He also denied working as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s boys in Southwest, saying he is not a boy to anybody.

  • Eghagha: my students’ Facebook comments scared my abductors

    The Head of Department of English at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Hope Eghagha, at the weekend, relived his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers.

    The university don spoke of how the comments and threats of his students on Facebook overwhelmed his abductors to release him.

    Prof Eghagha was abducted on September 30, 2012, while he was Delta State Commissioner for Education.

    He was returning from Warri to Asaba, the state capital, after a family visit.

    His abductors were said to have killed his police orderly on the spot.

    The academic spoke at the weekend in Lagos during a reunion dinner where he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by his former students at Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (OSUA), where he taught from 1988 to 1994.

    He noted that of his 5,000 Facebook friends, 4,000 were his students.

    He said it was from the social media platform he monitored their progresses over the years.

    According to him, one of his students is a pilot.

    Prof Eghagha said: “I have monitored your progress through Facebook and your comments and prayers for me during my ordeal overwhelmed my kidnappers, who acknowledged that I have a lot of followers.”

    Clad in a white agbada, a pair of glasses and a black cap, the academic said he noted that the experience he passed through made him value the beauty of life, having been given a second opportunity to live after such near-death experience.

    He said the negative experience forced him into series of therapy, adding that he would document his experiences in a forthcoming book.

    Eghagha said: “They (abductors) intimidated me so much that I said my last prayers thrice. They told me my death hour was 10 o’clock. The room where they put me was always dark and I was blindfolded.”

  • Ondo monarch’s abductors demand N5m

    Ondo monarch’s abductors demand N5m

    Abductors of the Oniyani of Iyani-Akoko in Ondo State, Oba Joel Daodu, have reduced the ransom for his release from N15 million to N5 million, family sources said yesterday.
    The monarch was seized on Saturday evening near Oba-Akoko, on the Owo-Ikare Road.
    Residents of Iyani-Akoko have been praying God to intercede for prompt release of the monarch.
    It was alleged that Oba Daodu was abducted with one of his prominent chiefs, John Afelumo.
    Their whereabouts were still unknown last night.
    Reactions have trailed the abduction of the royal father and his chief.
    A prominent traditional ruler and the Akala of Ikaram -Akoko, Oba Andrew Momodu, said it was an abomination to abduct a monarch.
    He said monarchs were the custodians of traditions and representatives of the Creator of the universe.
    The traditional father said such beings should not be ridiculed.
    Oba Momodu urged government to recruit more policemen to protect lives and property.
    He urged Oba Daodu’s abductors to release him with his chief without any condition.
    The Olisupare of Supare-Akoko, Oba Adejoro Omosogbon, also called for military deployment to Owo-Ikare Road.
    He said the area had become a haven for kidnappers and other persons with devilish activities.