The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abductors

  • OAU lecturer’s abductors demand N70m

    •ASUU: overhaul security agencies in Ekiti    •Kidnappers threaten more abductions

    The abductors of a senior lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Dr. Femi Omisore, have demanded N70 million from his family.

    Omisore, a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Design Management, was abducted last Saturday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on his way to a funeral in Oye-Ekiti.

    The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), OAU chapter, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, said the kidnappers used Omisore’s telephone to call his wife on Monday.

    Speaking at an emergency congress, Aborisade denied that Omisore had been killed.

    He described the kidnap as “callous”, saying the university community has been inmourning since the incident occurred.

    Aborisade said the “wicked act” offends our culture, desecrates our institutions and cast utter shame on our collective humanity.

    He confirmed that the lecturer’s driver was killed and his car burnt by the kidnappers.

    The ASUU chairman, who pleaded with the kidnappers to release Omisore unconditionally, said they should consider his contribution to the society.

    He said: “The congress sympathises with the family of the driver and also with the family of our colleague. We condemn the kidnap of our colleague and the killing of the driver. We demand for Omisore’s immediate and unconditional release.”

    ASUU has called for an overhaul of the security agencies in Ekiti State for their failure to tackle kidnappings in the state.

    The union urged security agencies to deploy appropriate technology, such as tracking devices, to curb kidnapping.

    It called on Governor Ayo Fayose to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, saying “any further delay may spell doom for the state”.

    The Chairman of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) branch of ASUU, Dr. Bola Oniya, said security agencies have failed in their duties.

    He decried the kidnap of seven persons in Ekiti State in the last two weeks without any clue to their whereabouts.

    Oniya called on the Fayose administration to bring the perpetrators to justice, describing the kidnap of lecturers and medical professionals as “gross error of unimaginable proportion”.

    The ASUU chair said the erroneous impression that dons and their medical colleagues earn good wages is misplaced, noting that they are being owed close to three months arrears of salaries and bonuses.

    He said: “Government should, as a matter of urgency, overhaul security agencies saddled with the responsibility of keeping peace in the state.

    The Ekiti State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. John Akinbote, has said kidnappers have threatened to abduct seven more health workers.

    Akinbote said the threat was sent to senior union officials yesterday.

    He wondered why health workers, who render humanitarian services, have become endangered species.

    The NMA chief urged health workers to be more security-conscious.

    Akinbote called on security agencies to protect health workers.

  • Police lay ambush for abductors of 87-year-old American woman

    The Kogi State Police Command said it has spread its dragnet to

    ensure that the kidnappers of the American woman, Rev. Phyllis Sortor, are arrested.

    The 87-year-old missionary, who was kidnapped two

    weeks ago from her school premises at Emiworo in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, was freed by her abductors last Friday.

    She was released about 8:30pm and sighted at the Kogi State Police Command headquarters, Lokoja, about 11pm.

    Police spokesman Sola Collins Adebayo told our correspondent that the command would arrest the kidnappers.

    He said: “She has been handed over to the U.S. embassy by the police.

    She’s safe and healthy. We have cordoned off the area suspected to be the kidnappers’ hideout to ensure their arrest.”

    A police source described the American’s kidnap as an embarrassment.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said the incident put the command under pressure.

    According to him, “the American’s kidnap was a big embarrassment. Imagine an 87-year-old woman, a missionary, being kidnapped. Everybody was on our neck.

    “We’re happy she has been released and in good health. It was a joint effort, I must say. The suspects will be arrested.”

    Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

  • Abductors demand $10m for Dariye’s dad

    Abductors demand $10m for Dariye’s dad

    The gunmen who kidnapped Mr Dariye Dafweng, father of former Plateau State Govermor Joshua Dariye, at his home in Mushere village, Bokkos Local Government Area on Saturday, have asked for $10 million ransom.

    “We have just confirmed that the kidnappers dropped a letter in which they asked for $10 million,” Maj.-Gen. Dave Enetie, Commander of the Special Task Force (STF), said yesterday.

    The STF chief said the kidnappers also left their telephone numbers.

    He said: “We are trying to get a copy of the letter and the phone numbers in our efforts to rescue Dariye’s father.”

    Enetie said the STF’s personnel had been dispatched to parts of the state to locate the kidnappers, besides the efforts of the search teams combing neighbouring states.

    Police Commissioner Abu Emmanuel said the command had visited the site of the incident and picked up shells of bullets shot by the gunmen.

    He said: “There is already a search-and-rescue team. We hope we should be able to arrive at something as soon as possible.”

    NAN reports that Dafweng was kidnapped by gunmen, who invaded the Dariye family’s compound, shooting sporadically to scare away people.

    The gunmen took the old man, dressed him in women’s clothes, and sped off with him on a motorcycle.

  • Abductors of ex-Delta council chief’s wife jailed 51 years

    A Delta State High Court, sitting in the Asaba Judicial Division, has sentenced three accused persons to 51 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping the wife of a former Ughelli South Local Government Area’s Chairman, Mrs Elizabeth Otidi.
    The convicts – Kelly Ogun, a 33-year old farmer; Udoji Peter, 35, and Iloaria Jonathan, a 26-year old taxi driver – are to spend 17 years each in prison, having been found guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping.
    The court sentenced each of them to seven years in jail for conspiracy to kidnap and 10 years each for kidnap. They were discharged on count three, on which the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients of the offence (demanding with menace) beyond reasonable doubts.
    The prosecution told the court that on or about January 28, 2010, the three accused, with others at large, conspired and kidnapped Mrs Otidi, wife of a former local government chairman when she was returning from market in her car.
    The court was also told that the six kidnappers, who used a Volkswagen Jetta car for the crime, drove dangerously and hit Mrs Otid’s car from behind as she slowed down at a speed breaker. The kidnappers were said to have seized her there and whisked her away to a forest across the Bomadi River.
    Mrs Otidi, who identified her kidnappers in her evidence-in-chief, said she outwitted her abductors and escaped from their den in the night, after pretending to be pressed.
    But the three abductors, who had made voluntary confessional statements to the police, in which they admitted committing the crime, denied the charges during the trial.

  • Gunmen kidnap Dezani’s sister as abductors free ex-NBA President Wali

    Gunmen kidnap Dezani’s sister as abductors free ex-NBA President Wali

    A relation of Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, Osiya Agamah, has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt, police said yesterday.

    There were conflicting reports about the relationship between the victim and the minister as at the time of filing this report.

    A source described the victim as a younger sister of the minister, while another source said she is a distant relation.

    According to reports,  Agamah was kidnapped at gunpoint on Tuesday night, as she approached her car.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police are at a loss as to why the woman was abducted, adding, “we are not aware if any ransom demand had been made”.

    Muhammad said she was kidnapped around the Leventis area of   Port Harcourt while returning from church.

    Investigation is said to have commenced into her abduction.

    Meanwhile,  after spending 13 days in the den of kidnappers, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Okey Wali, yesterday regained freedom.

    Wali was kidnapped on October 11 at his residence in Port Harcourt by unknown gunmen.

    A statement issued by the NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, confirmed Wali’s release, commending security agencies on the role they played.

    Alegeh said he had spoken to Wali, adding that “the former NBA boss is hale and hearty.”

    He said Wali expressed his thanks and appreciation to members of the bar and bench, the security agencies, friends and family members for their concern, support and prayers during the period of his ordeal.

    Alegeh described the spate of kidnapping and insecurity across Nigeria as worrisome, calling on the government to urgently address the situation.

    “The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly delighted by the safe release of Okey Wali, SAN and wishes to express appreciation to all NBA members and well-meaning Nigerians who supported the Bar and the Okey Wali family during this trying period.

    “We must also commend NBA members for keeping calm throughout this period and not taking any steps that may have directly or indirectly jeopardised the efforts for his safe release which have now yielded positive results.

    “The NBA also wishes to place on record its appreciation of the efforts of the security agencies in securing the safe release of Wali.

    “The Director-General of the State Security Services [SSS], the Inspector General of Police and the SSS State Directors and Police Commissioners in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states who worked tirelessly to secure his safe release deserve special mention.

    “While we celebrate the safe release of Wali, we must hasten to reiterate the fact that the spate of kidnapping and general state of insecurity in our country is cause for great concern.

    “A safe and secure country is one of the primary roles of our government and we call on the government to promptly address the present state of insecurity in the country.

    “We cannot continue to live in fear of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals. We call on the government to take much more seriously its constitutional duty of providing a safe and secure environment for all Nigerians,” said Alegeh.

  • DSS parades ‘abductors’ of Jonathan’s uncle

    The Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday paraded yesterday six suspects who allegedly kidnapped Chief Nitabai Inengite, President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle in February.

    Inengite was kidnapped from his Otuoke home on February 23 and was held by his abductors for 17 days.

    The suspects are Eldred Magnus Jonah (30); Raphael Inengesi (32); Ibeabuchi Inya (29); Oreva Abridi (29); Tammy Tamarapreye Agbai (29) and a native doctor, Felix Onuoha (48).

    DSS’ spokesperson Ms. Marilyn Ogar narrated how they took the victim away in a car and later transferred him into a speed boat and headed to the creeks.

    The Service described Jonah, a 400-Level student of the University of Jos as the mastermind, adding that he provided the initial N40, 000 for members of his gang for arms procurement and logistics.

    Ms. Ogar said Onuoha confessed that one other member of the gang and three unknown persons visited him for the purpose of preparing medicine for their fortification and success in the plan to kidnap “a rich man, who resides in Bayelsa’’.

    “That he (herbalist) played along with them to save himself and family,’’ she said.

    She also said he confessed that they reached an agreement that 10 per cent of the ransom would be given to him.

    Also paraded were 10 suspects arrested for the abduction of two sisters aged 15 and 17 years at Life Camp, in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The sisters were abducted from their parents’ home on June 8 and were held by the suspects for nine days. They were released on June 17, after the gang collected N10 million from the family.

    The Service gave the names of the suspects as: Oyemire Asagba (29); Sunday Attah (30); Zacheus Salami (30); Victor Bassey (32); Sani Mohammed (23); and Aragba Ademo (33).

    Others are: Ojo Idris Gambo (22); Haruna Asama (38); Dikko Iko (22); and Mohammed Adamu (20).

    Describing Asagba as the leader of the gang, the DSS said he recruited other members from various locations.

    The suspects confessed that Iko, who worked as a guard at the girls’ home, provided information on the movements of the family.

    He also arranged for the gang to rob his employer while the girls were being abducted.

    The gang also confessed to have snatched cars at gunpoint, robbed filling stations within Abuja and its environs.

    A number of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, pistols and double barrel guns, were recovered from them.

    Ms. Ogar advised the public to be security conscious and urged employers to carry out background checks before they employ any worker, including domestic staff.

  • Kids’ abductors on the loose in Calabar

    Kids’ abductors on the loose in Calabar

    Parents in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, are living in fear. Reason: kidnappers are targeting children. It has assumed a frightening dimension. The targets are children under 12, irrespective of whether they are from rich or poor families. These little ones are not abducted for money. There will be no strange phone calls to family members negotiating ransom and the modus operandi of exchange. Once abducted they are never seen again!

    Several theories, from abduction for rituals, trafficking and sale to childless couples, have been worked up to explain this strange development which is on the increase.

    Many a parent now takes extra precautions to save their children from the hands of these men of darkness, whose activities are painting the city in bad light.

    A Single mother of three children, aged four to 10, told our reporter: “I now pray double about the safety of my children. Whenever I am not with them, for instance when they go to school my mind is never at rest until I see them again, safe and sound. Personally I have also taken precautions on my own to ensure their safety. I don’t let them play around the house anymore. Now I ensure they are always indoors if there is nothing necessary to take them outside. It has become a worrisome situation and we are praying they should do something urgently about it. We know Calabar as a peaceful place devoid of all these kinds of things. Now we don’t know what is happening.”

    David, a resident of Ikot Ansa in Calabar Municipality, narrated a case of where a child who was supposed to be dedicated on a Sunday was abducted the night before.

    He said: “It was a really unfortunate development. The family it happened to is one that I am close to. Every arrangement had been made for the dedication. The food and drinks were ready, the camera man had been paid to cover the event, invitations had been sent out and every arrangement had been made for the dedication to go on. Unfortunately when everyone woke up in the morning, the baby was nowhere to be found.

    “Someone had come in and abducted the child. The baby could not have crawled away because it could not crawl yet and besides it was on a bed. The mother has been in a coma and the father is hysterical. It is such an unfortunate development.”

    Recently, it was reported of how a four-year old boy, Effiong, son of a bank security man and a fried yam seller was abducted at the Ekorinim axis of Calabar in a car with no registration number.

    Also, earlier this year, a three year old boy, Victor, was snatched by an unknown persons in a church during service.

    A couple of weeks ago, the Atakpa Police Station in Calabar attracted a mammoth crowd. They were people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of some persons arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap four little girls.

    It was gathered that the children, aged between four to six were hawking sachet water on the street when the attempt was made by some men inside a vehicle to snatch them.

    Alarm was raised by people nearby and the police intervened  to save the children.

    Police Public Relations officer, Hogan Bassey, confirmed the development saying investigation was on-going.

    Worried by the development, a member of the State House of Assembly, Ngim Okpo, brought a motion of Urgent Public Interest “on the increasing incidents of child snatching where in recent times, have been several reported cases of kidnapping of innocent children by some unscrupulous elements for alleged ritual purposes”.

    He called on the House to pass a resolution to compel “relevant government agencies to sensitize members of the public against falling prey”.

    Also, the State Security Adviser, Rekpene Bassey, has advised members of the public to take notice of this emerging threat to the safety and security of their children and wards.

    He advised parents against sending children on errands without the company of adults or grown-ups; he also advised children against straying out of the home without the notice of their parents and children who trek to school alone even when they are not old enough should not be left on their own.

    He said: “There are also instances where children are snatched from the arms of their mothers or guardians by abductors who pretend to offer them lift in their cars; others are abducted right from their homes while their parents are not at home or in another part of the house.

    “Abductors seem to be having a field day while our children are no longer safe, even in the privacy of our own homes. This is a very disturbing development which must be checked.

    “Parents must cooperate with the police and other security agencies by giving them useful information about suspected criminals wherever they are found within their vicinity or anywhere else.  The Commissioner of Police has been alerted about this development and requested to notify all police formations in the state capital and direct the DPOs to stamp out this new menace.”

    No doubt, parents and guardians seek end to the menace.

  • JTF rescues lawmaker’s parents from abductors in Borno

    JTF rescues lawmaker’s parents from abductors in Borno

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) yesterday said it rescued the parents

    of Mohammed Sanda, a member of the National Assembly from suspected kidnappers in Borno State.

    JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, spoke on Monday in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Musa said Mr Ummara and Mrs Maryam Sanda were rescued after an operation near Maiduguri.

    “Based on intelligence, the JTF intercepted and rescued two kidnap victims – one Ummara Sanda Sheriff and his wife Mrs Maryam Sanda Sheriff, who are the parents of Hon. Mohammed Sanda, a legislator representing Kaga-Maigumeri – Gubio Constituency at the National Assembly.

    “ They were kidnapped last Sunday by terrorists at Ngamdu village at about 10:15 pm, The village is a border town linking Borno and Yobe States.”.

    Musa said the victims and their abductors were heading for the desert town of Marte before they were intercepted.

    “The terrorists and the victims were heading toward Marte in Marte Local Government Area in an old model Toyota 4 Wheel Drive when they were intercepted at Zabarmari by the JTF troops on special operation.

    “The couple were successfully rescued by the JTF and Mr Sanda is 85 years while his wife Maryam is 70 years. They seem to be in good health.”

    Musa said several items, including one AK 47 Rifle and a magazine with 30 rounds of 7.62 mm Special Ammunition, and seven Assorted Cell phones, six pairs of wrappers were recovered from the suspects.

    “The JTF wishes to once again alert the public to be wary and security conscious at all times.

    “Members of the public are advised to be very sensitive to strangers and friends that have not been in contact for long.

    “Similarly, the public are warned to avoid isolated areas and shun meetings or friendship organised through telephones or social media.

    “This advice is based on the intelligence available to the task force that Boko Haram Terrorists have resolved to concentrate more on kidnappings than robbery.”

  • Lawmaker’s abductors demand N90m

    The abductors of an Edo State lawmaker, Victor Edoror, are demanding a ransom of N90million, it was learnt yesterday.

    Edoror is a first time lawmaker and he represents Esan Central Constituency.

    He was abducted on February 3 with his driver at Irrua in Esan Central Local Government of Edo State.

    Sources said the kidnappers insisted that the payment should be in foreign currency, which is an equivalent of $600,000.

    His colleagues have refused to sit for two weeks now.

    Their refusal has affected the constitution of an exco by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    It was gathered that efforts were being made by the lawmakers to raise the fund to secure the release of their colleague.

  • Lawmaker’s abductors demand ransom in dollars

    There is palpable anxiety among members of the Edo State House of Assembly over the continued holding in custody of the lawmaker representing Esan Central Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Victor Odoror, by suspected kidnappers.

    It was learnt yesterday that his abductors were demanding for ransom in foreign currency.

    A statement yesterday by the Forum of Former Students Leaders after a meeting in Benin City, signed by Comrade Oluwole Moyenin and Comrade Ologe Elijah and made available to journalists, said the last Sunday kidnap of Odoror was undermining the “gargantuan efforts of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole government in the areas of security and human development.”

    The statement called for prayers for divine intervention for the release of their colleague, even as they described their Odoror as an “amiable and accessible personality.”

    Meanwhile, security has been tightened at the Legislative Quarters of the members of the House of Assembly along Ihama Road in GRA Benin City, as visitors were not allowed in until clearance was obtained from their hosts.

    The Nation gathered that the abductors were demanding for a ransom in dollars, but the stae government reportedly refused to be involved in the saga as they feared that being involved would encourage the kidnappers going after government officials. It is strongly believed that some of his friends were already considering the option of mobilising funds to pay the ransom.

    The lawmaker was kidnapped in his car along with his driver.