The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School

  • Poverty led me to kidnapping – Kingpin

    The alleged mastermind of last March’s abduction of three Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary school students said on Wednesday that poverty drove him into the crime.

    Felix Silva, 38, who admitted being the leader of a vicious gang, said he was involved in illegal oil bunkering before delving into kidnapping.

    He was paraded alongside four other suspects – Taye Videgnion (28), Adebowale Johnson (39), Oluwadara Segun and Loko Amos alias Mosquito, 26, all of who participated in the abduction of a Chinese expatriate, Hang Kumming, some weeks ago.

    Silva, who reportedly said he was invincible and above arrest, denied the allegations, saying the gang received N5.6 million as ransom for the school girls.

    “We demanded N5.4million but I learnt we were given N5.6million. I got my N300,000 share. The kidnap of the school girls was my first time. I was lured into kidnapping because of poverty. I used to live in Calabar with my wife and two boys were I engaged in oil bunkering.

    “But because of the heavy presence of soldiers and security men in the area, we could not continue the business and were chased out. I came to Lagos with my wife and eldest son to try my luck.

    “We went to Badbington School to kidnap the girls around 8:00pm that day. We did not want to kill anyone. Madam Eze saw us, but we did not want to kill her. We saw the three students and took them and drove through the bush path. We didn’t intend to kill them. All we are after is to collect money.

    “I have carried out three kidnappings. I did one at Dangote side and the school girls. I have never killed anyone before in my life neither have I robbed anyone. All I do is kidnapping.

    “My wife and son were also kidnapped by my gang. I was really affected with their sudden kidnap. We are seven in number.

    “I was arrested by men of the Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) at a hotel in Majidun, Ikorodu, while I was with my girlfriend. I regret my actions and I am ashamed of myself,” he said.

     

  • Six remanded over kidnap of Babington school girls

    A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ebute Metta, yesterday remanded six men suspected of kidnapping three pupils of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, in February.

    Remanded are: Emmanuel Arigidi, 37; Gift Pius, 30; Omoni Rufus Fred, 32; Owei Omobo Geofrey, 38; Akanji Seun, 38; and James Henry Segun, 29.

    Chief Magistrate I. O. Adelaja made the order following an application filed and argued by police prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Osuyi pursuant to section 264(1) and (2), of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State, 2011.

    The application, according to Osuyi, was necessary so that the defendants could be taken into custody while advice on the matter was sought from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution, (DPP,).

    He pleaded for 30 days to begin with.

    There was no objection from the suspects’ counsel, Mr. Ola Ogunbiyi.

    Consequently, Chief Magistrate Adelaja upheld the prosecution’s application and remanded all six in prison custody for 30 days.

    She also ordered the police to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP for advice.

    In a charge sheet marked D/13/16, attached to the remand application, the police alleged that on February 29, at about 8p.m, the suspects, while armed with AK 47s and other offensive weapons, invaded Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, and unlawfully detained and kidnapped three students of the institution.

    The three girls allegedly kidnapped by the suspects are: Tofunmi Popo-Olaniyan, 15; Olusa Timilelun, 14; and Deborah Akintayo, 14.

    The suspects were alleged to have taken the students to their hideout in a creek between Imota and Igbokuta area of Ikorodu, before they were rescued by the police on March 6.

    The police also alleged that the men robbed the principal of the school, Venerable Ola Oluwa Adeyemi, of the sum of N5.6 million.

    Aside that, the first suspect, Emmanuel Arigidi, was also alleged to be a member of the armed gang that attacked First City Monument Bank (FCMB) at Admiralty Way, Lekki, on March 12, and carted away the sum of N24 million.

    The offences, according to the Osuyi, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 409, 269(1), and 295(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011

     

  • Reps to IGP: Find three School girls abducted in Lagos

    Reps to IGP: Find three School girls abducted in Lagos

    The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to intensify efforts to ensure that the three girls abducted from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, Lagos State are released.

    The House also urged the Police and other agencies to step up strict surveillance in Ikorodu and all schools in the state to avoid similar occurrence.

    The Green Chamber also resolved to send a powerful 10- member delegation to Lagos on the issue.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion on matters of urgent public importance sponsored by a member Babjimi Benson with the title: “Urgent Need to Seek the Release of Abducted Female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu.”

    According to the lawmaker, the girls were abducted on Monday, February 29 by heavily armed gunmen at about 8pm after they scaled the fence of the school.

    “More than 24 hours after the sad incident, the Nigeria Police Force and other concerned agencies of government have not been able to reunite the abducted girls with their parents,” he said.

    According to the lawmaker, “the incidence of insecurity in Ikorodu Federal Constituency is becoming worrisome as the security agencies of government are finding it difficult to protect lives and properties.”

    A member, Ekpoattai Ime while contributing noted that it is sad for a mother not to know where her child is adding that it is against God and humanity.

    She said: “I urge this Honourable House and the IGP to intensify efforts to recover the girls. Girls are now kidnapped everyday in Nigeria, even women, this is sad.”

    Another member, Aisha Dukku in her contribution, said it is important that the House visits the school and the parents.

    Sequel to the adoption of the motion, the House raised an ad-hoc committee of 10 members from the Standing Committee Police Affairs, Public Safety and Intelligence and Education.

    The mandate of the committee is to visit Lagos State to investigate the abduction of the three school girls; visit the State Commissioner of Police, the school, parents of the girls and the Lagos State Governor and report back to the House as soon as possible.

    In a related development, the Bayelsa State caucus in the House of Representatives while confirming the release of the 14 year old Ese Orusu that was abducted from Bayelsa Wednesday said the full weight of the law must be applied on all those involved in the abduction.

    The lawmakers that included Diri Duoye, Sodaguno Festus-Omoni and Fred Agbedi expressed their determination to work with other lawmakers and stakeholders in the review and domestication of the Child Rights Act.

    Meanwhile, Solomon Ahwinawhi (PDP, Delta), who represents Ughelli North, Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency of Delta state, where the parents of the abducted girl hails from defended the Emir Kano, Lamido Sanusi, saying the monarch’s role in the incidence should not be condemned.

  • We’ll ensure rescue of kidnapped girls – Ambode

    We’ll ensure rescue of kidnapped girls – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said his government will not spare any effort to ensure the safe release of the three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu area of the state kidnapped by a group of armed gang on Monday evening.

    The Governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, condemned the unfortunate incident and assured that the Police and other security operatives have swung into action, with useful leads and with an unwavering determination to track down the perpetrators of the act.

    “We have not been silent on this unfortunate development. In a delicate security matter of this nature, where young innocent people are involved and management of information demands utmost circumspect, we were convinced that swift and coordinated reaction, guided by intelligence reports on the part of the Police, was a better and more sensitive approach to take, rather than a sensational, panic-stricken reaction,”Governor Ambode said.

    He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the Assistant Inspector General of Police for the Lagos/Ogun Command were fully on ground at the scene and vicinity of the incident leading the entire coordinated effort involving every military apparatus.

    “We believe in the capacity of the Police to lead this rescue mission. I have had ceaseless briefing with them since the incident happened and God helping us, we shall spare no effort in securing the safe release of the girls and continue to secure the school and indeed every part of Lagos”.

    Governor Ambode said the incident may not be unconnected with his recent visit to some parts of Ikorodu where he read the riot act to vandals and criminal gangs on the resolve of the state government to take the battle to their hideouts in a spirited effort to secure the pipelines.

    “We believe this is a case of evil fighting back. But Lagos will neither succumb to threats of lawlessness nor bow to terror.

    “Our resolve is very clear; we will assist the Police and other security agencies in dealing decisively with this one unfortunate case and prevent future reoccurrence. We will deploy the resources at our disposal to safeguard every life and property within our care,” he said.