The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap victim

  • Amaechi rescues kidnap victim

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi yesterday rescued a kidnap victim, Mr. Edi Chinda Edi, on Omoku/Egbeda Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Seven others are still in the kidnappers’ den.

    Amaechi, according to his media aide, Gift Okpara, in an online statement, was travelling to Ubimini in Emohua Local Government of Rivers State to address supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he saw a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), which was abandoned in the bush.

    The minister was reportedly leading the convoy, but he stopped and ordered his security team to comb the forest in search of the occupants of the SUV.

    During the search, one of the occupants was rescued.

    The victims are APC supporters, who were heading for Ubimini to attend a sensitisation rally on the permanent voter cards (PVCs), ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Narrating his ordeal to Amaechi, Edi said they were heading for Ubimini when they suddenly ran into a barricade by the kidnappers on the expressway.

    He said the hoodlums attacked them.

    Edi said eight APC members were in the SUV when the kidnappers, who were armed with AK47 rifles and other weapons, struck.

    He said: “We were eight in the vehicle and they kidnapped us. While they were beating and forcing us into the bush, I escaped to the other side of the forest.”

    Worried by the safety of the seven other victims in the kidnappers’ den, Amaechi directed his security personnel to continue the search to rescue them and arrest the hoodlums.

  • Kogi: Police arrest fleeing suspects, free kidnap victim

    THE Kogi State Police Command has said that it will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of crime and criminality. This is coming on the heels of the rescue a kidnap victim from the booth of a car, and the subsequent arrests of some of the suspected kidnappers, in Kabba Local Government.

    The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. William Ayah, in a release yesterday in Lokoja, said the proactive measures put in place by the command was already yielding positive result. It read: “Through a proactive crime preventing strategies adopted in ensuring that citizens are safe and criminality curtailed, the command through intelligence- led response rescued a kidnapped victim.

    “On the 19th of July, 2017 at about 2230hrs, acting on a distress call that hoodlums abducted one Sunday Amupitan ‘M’ of Surulere Quarters, Kabba LGA of Kogi State, operatives from Kabba Division led by the DPO, promptly moved to the scene while the suspects were racing away from the scene in a Honda Accord vehicle with Reg. No. APP 444 DA. “The police patrol team pursued the hoodlums, and in a bid to escape arrest while running, hit three motorcyclists, then abandoned the vehicle and fled.”

  • Police rescue kidnap victim in Enugu

    The Enugu State Police Command has rescued Miss Chinenye Nwobodo, 18, a kidnapped victim, at Ugbawka forest in Nkanu East Local Government.

    Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement in Enugu, said the victim was rescued on Monday through intelligence information obtained by operatives at the Nkanu East Division.

    He listed four arrested  suspects as Saidu Ali, Nwobodo Chibuzor, Nwankwo Monday and Ogbu Emeka.

    “The police learnt that on Sunday, about 10 am, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers operating in a Golf car, stormed Umuaragu-Nara community.

    “They allegedly abducted the daughter of the Neighbourhood Watch Chairman of Umuawaragu-Nara, Chinenye Nwobodo.

    “The abductors abandoned their car on noticing that the police had been contacted. They fled into the forest with their victim and demanded N15 million ransom.

    “Following intelligence obtained by the police, Ogbu Emeka, one of the suspects, was nabbed.

    “The information he gave guided the police in rescuing Chinenye Nwobodo unhurt on Monday at Ugbawka forest.

    “The police arrested other members of the gang at Ihuokpara forest on Monday, about 5:40 pm,’’ Amaraizu said.

    He said the police recovered the suspects’ car registered as DQ 105 ENU.

    The spokesman said they were assisting in the investigation, and the victim taken to her family.  

     

  • Military frees kidnap victim in Delta

    The Joint Military Operation in the Niger Delta has freed a kidnap victim and foiled another kidnap attempt in a bid to halt oil theft and criminality in the area, an official has said.

    The spokesman for the operation, Lt.-Cdr Thomas Otuji, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Friday that the  force, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, carried out the operation on Wednesday.

    “On Oct.19, 2016, Operation Delta Safe gallant troops’ resilience paid off when in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and Vigilance group, rescued a kidnap victim, Chief Matron of Ughelli Central Hospital, Mrs Patience Abere.

    “The victim was rescued at her residence in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta.

    “The matron was abducted by three notorious armed men in her Kia Soul car with registration number, AS 609 UGH.

    “One of the suspects was apprehended while two fled on sighting the troops.

    “Two locally-made pistols and three live cartridges were recovered from the suspects,” Otuji stated.

    He said that troops also foiled a kidnap attempt and arrested two suspected kidnappers at Okwugbude Community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta.

    Otuji said the suspected kidnappers were on their way to kidnap a victim when troops swooped on them before they carried out their operation.

    Otuji said the troops also set ablaze two cars used by oil thieves, containing several jerry-cans of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Jeremi, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.

    He also said that troops arrested an oil theft suspect, who allegedly attempted to bribe them with N29,500.

    “He was arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Police, ‘A’ Division Headquarters, Ughelli, and vehicles set ablaze,” he said.

    Otuji further said that troops arrested a driver of a truck carrying 33,000 litres of a substance suspected to be illegally-refined AGO.

    “The truck was intercepted at Otovwodo in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

    “The suspect confirmed to have illegally loaded the product from Port Harcourt and was heading to Zamfara.

    “The waybill indicated PMS whereas he was carrying suspected AGO,” Otuji said.

    He said soldiers also intercepted two white Hilux vehicles and another, with registration number, WWR 24 AL.

    Otuji said the vehicles were carrying eight units of 300-litre and 12 units of 60-litre of plastic drums and jerry-cans, containing suspected illegally refined AGO.

    “The intention of the occupants of the vehicles was to evade being checked by troops, using the escort tags on the number plate as a disguise.

    “However, troops’ diligence led to their arrest along Kwale-Asaba Expressway, Ndokwa-West Local Government Area, Delta.

    “The three arrested suspects, purportedly working with Ichoghe Resources Limited, are being interrogated,” Otuji said.

    The problem of oil theft and kidnapping in the Niger Delta region has been a serious challenge in  recent times.

    The situation compelled the government to step up military activities to police the area along with regular security personnel.

    On many occasions, the military has destroyed illegal refining facilities used by oil thieves.

  • Soldiers rescue kidnap victim in Abia

    Soldiers rescue kidnap victim in Abia

    Soldiers serving in 144, Asa under Ohafia 14 Brigade in Abia State have rescued a kidnap victim, Mrs. Rita Anaekwe. They killed a member of the gang and arrested two others.

    It was gathered that Mrs. Anaekwe, a business woman, was abducted in her house on Anaekwe Street, Umuleta village, Obinkwu in Ukwa West council, after the gang entered her compound through the backyard fence.

    Sources said the victim was home alone and the hoodlums killed the family dog to get full control of the house.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums collected Mrs. Anaekwe’s jewellery, cash and other valuables and took her to their hideout in the family’s Pathfinder SUV.

    The soldiers were said to have been alerted by a relation. On sighting the soldiers, the hoodlums engaged them in a shootout but were overpowered, leading to the death of one of them. Two others were arrested.

    The woman was said to be unhurt and police from the Aba Area Command recovered her vehicle.

    Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi confirmed the incident, saying they were investigating the matter.

    Sidi added that his men were after fleeing members of the gang.

  • One week after, kidnap victim returns home

    It was all praise and worship at the United Apostolic Church in Agege, Lagos, last Thursday, one week after Mrs Felicia Ajijola, who was reported missing, returned home hale and hearty.

     Mrs Ajijola left her Irepodun, Orile-Agege, Lagos home on April 16, few minutes after she received a strange phone call.

    Narrating her experience, Mrs Ajijola said she escorted her daughter out around 6am that day and returned home, but she couldn’t remember what happened thereafter.

    “I had just returned from vigil and accompanied my daughter, who left for work. Anything that happened afterwards, I am not aware. Last Thursday, I was shocked to have found myself at Pleasure Bus Stop along Lagos/Abeokuta Express-way and that was how I returned home. I didn’t eat or drink for one week but I thank God I could still locate my house. I appreciate those who prayed for me during my absence,” she said.

    Her step-daughter, Oriyomi Ajijola, who was at home that day, said she was washing clothes when her step-mother received the phone call.

    She said: “I was in the bathroom when she received a call but I didn’t know who she spoke with. Whenever she returned from vigil, she takes her bath and sleep but I was surprised not to have found her in her room. It was my niece who told me she went out. I thought she went to the market to buy fruits because she sells fruits at a primary school near Pen Cinema in Agege.

    “We dialled her mobile line severally but she didn’t pick our calls. Around 4pm, her line was switched off. I contacted all my siblings because I couldn’t think straight. Right now, I am glad she is back. It is really a miracle.”

    The junior wife, Mrs Florence Ajijola, told The Nation that the case was reported to Elere Police Station in Pen Cinema, Agege and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to track her phone.

    “We were told her mobile phone couldn’t be tracked because it was a small phone,” she said.

    She described her senior wife as patient, kind, quiet, accommodating and easy going.

     “My senior doesn’t go out anyhow, she informed us before leaving the house. We are happy she returned to us hale and hearty. We thank God and those who stood by us,” she said.

  • 72-year old Ibadan kidnap victim disappears

    One of the rescued victims from the forest of horror in Ibadan, Mrs Cecilia Obaikhena, has disappeared again.

    Obaikhena, 72, disappeared again while her fellow victims were being gathered by rescue workers Saturday evening.

    It was learnt that the septuagenarian walked away during the chaotic rescue operation

    Her family members, who stormed Ibadan Tuesday in search of her were disappointed when they did not find her among the rescued victims at the State Hospital, Yemetu.

    Investigation by The Nation also revealed that there was no female corpse among those recorded so far from the forest of horror.

    But an eye witness of the rescue operation said Mrs. Obaikhena walked away while rescuers were busy with others too frail to walk.

    A distraught Mr. Victor Obaikhena, son, appealed to residents and security agents to help in the search of her mother.

    According to him, her mother was kidnapped in Edo State in 2008.

  • Parents of kidnap victim seek justice

    Parents of a kidnap victim, Miss Tejiri Jegede-Ikpen, at the weekend expressed concern over alleged delay by the Delta State Police to charge the suspect to court.

    The 11-year-old victim and JSS 3 student of Presentation National High School, Benin City, Edo State, was kidnapped on June 28 at Adonophe Road in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    According to the father, Samuel Jegede-Ikpen, his daughter returned from school after her JSS 3 examination and was kidnapped the following day by a suspect whose name was given as Isaac Ike.

    Jegede-Ikpen said his daughter was at her mother’s shop when a motorcyclist, who pretended to be a customer, deceived her into following him.

    He said: “The suspect on a motor bike came to our shop and asked the sales girl that he was buying drinks worth N11,400 and he paid only N10,000 and requested the sales girl to come with her for the balance and while they were going, the sales girl complained that the distance was much; that she cannot go further and the bike man dropped her and demanded for his money which was given back to him.

    “The bike man immediately returned to the shop where he asked little Tejiri to come with him that the mother asked him to bring her. She followed until they got to a village called Ophorigbala in Olomu, Ughelli South before she realised she was being taken elsewhere.”

    Police Public Relations Officer Lucky Uyabeme said the suspect would be charged to court.

  • Kidnap victim dies after regaining freedom

    A 65- year old kidnap victim, Paul Odili Chima, has died three days after his release.

    The victim, who was the chairman of Delta State chapter of Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) and President of Aboh Development Union, was abducted in Asaba, Delta State capital.

    Chima was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen and was later released after spending one week in his captors den.

    The Nation gathered that N1.5 million was paid as ransom to secure his release.

    The victim reportedly complained of pains following torture he was subjected to by the hoodlums during his days in captivity.

    A close family source said, “Elder Chima died barely three days after his release by the kidnappers. Before his death, he complained of pains all over his body and was nursing a gunshot injury that was inflicted on him by the kidnappers.”