The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap

  • IGP: Eight held over pupils’ kidnap

    IGP: Eight held over pupils’ kidnap

    •’Rise in criminals’ use of tinted glass, siren’

    Eight persons have been arrested over the kidnap of six pupils of Lagos State Model College in Igbonla, Epe, 15 days ago, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris said yesterday.

    The suspects, he said in Abuja, were connected to those who kidnapped the children.

    The police, he said, would get the kidnappers soon.

    Idris said the children’s safety was paramount in the efforts to rescue them.

    “The IGP said: when conducting operations such as this, the safety of the children is very important and we are concentrating all our efforts on protecting the lives of those children. The creeks surrounding Epe and Ikorodu are always connected with kidnapping. We are going to have a permanent solution to the security in those areas but we and the state government have to advise school owners on where to site schools. Why are they building schools in areas that are vulnerable to activities like kidnapping. We have to take the security of the children serious and consider the environment where schools are built because location matters.

    “You don’t site a school where somebody can park a boat, go off the boat and pick targets and zoom off. We are looking into that and we have organisations supporting us in the construction of gunboats and in a month or two, some of the gunboats will be used to patrol the creeks and more marine officers will be trained and the creeks will be more safe because they will be patrolled using the gunboats.”

    He spoke of an increase in the abuse of tinted glass and spy number plates, saying criminals now use them to perpetrate crimes. “Some private individuals are using spy police and on a mere glance, you will think they are police officers. We want to set up task forces all over the country to check the abuse of spy plate and abuse of siren.

    People use siren and tinted glasses to commit crimes. We are going to set up task forces that would be deployed to various parts of the country to check the excesses of these individuals,” Idris said.

  • Gunmen kidnap six school boys

    Gunmen kidnap six school boys

    For the second time in eight months, gunmen yesterday stormed at the Lagos State Model College in Igbonla, Epe and kidnapped six pupils.

    They struck barely three days after writing the school of their coming.

    Those kidnapped are Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi. Four of them are in SS1 and two, SS 2.

    The kidnappers, it was learnt, were in police uniforms. Some of them were hooded.

    Residents said the gunmen had been prowling the town for days, adding that two persons including a poultry farmer, who notified soldiers of their presence, were killed.

    Their plan to strike on Wednesday was said to have been foiled by security operatives.

    But they returned early yesterday and took away 10 pupils. Four of them were said to have been released after being profiled.

    Those freed were said to have told the kidnappers that their parents were farmers, poor, dead or phone numbers not known.

    Some of the pupils who spoke with The Nation said the gunmen started shelling their hostels’ roofs on Wednesday night.

    They said the police kept the kidnappers at bay.

    A pupil said those the kidnappers attacked were in Yellow and Green Houses, adding that they were about six in number.

    He said: “They came into our hostel. At first we thought they were policemen because they were dressed as such. But because some of them covered their faces, we became skeptical. They have been shooting for days now. They even wrote the school that they would come. They threatened to kill 146 students when next they come.

    “We took cover. Some of us hid under the bunk but those whose legs came out, they drew them out. We have been indoors since Wednesday night.”

    A pupil said the kidnappers demanded to see his phone, adding: “I told them I don’t have a phone. That we are not allowed to use one. They wore police uniform and they carried guns. They told some of those they took away to cooperate. They asked one boy what his parents do for living and he said his father was a mechanic and his mother a pepper seller, so they left him.

    “They asked another one and he said his father was a pilot and they took him away.  They used their gun butt to smash out window at the VIP section. Then, they saw  a leather slippers and they took it away. I like the school but the insecurity is too much.”

    Angry parents, who besieged the school, protested the restriction of their children to the hostels. They insisted on taking their kids home.

    The parents, who frowned at what they called the school’s “inadequate security”, said their children would only return when situation improves.

    According to the parents, they had asked the school to “clear the bushes, erect a formidable fence, put a police post by the creek and also station an armoured tank there, but none was done.”

    They said the school’s fence was weak, adding that the gunmen broke the wall with a log because of its feebleness.

    Mrs. Riskat Odunukan, whose son was released after he told them his father is dead, said she thought it was a dream.

    Moruf Ramon and his wife, Ikmot, whose son, Isiaka was whisked away, appealed to the government to help them get him back.

    Ramon said: “Someone called me that some children were kidnapped from the school. It was when I got here that I realised my son was among those taken away. My blood pressure has risen since then.The school did not tell us anything initially. It was when we got to school that they called us inside and said they are working on it. They told us they got a letter about three days ago from the kidnappers that they would come, but they never told us anything until the kidnappers came. I don’t know what to do.  It is part of the anger of the parents.”

    Another parent Isiaka Yusuf whose son was also kidnapped, said he was devastated by the incident.

    The school management, he said, had promised that the children would be released, adding that they were told to inform the school whenever the kidnappers contacted them.

    Mrs. Amirat Alamorieda said the kidnappers took the pupils away after the soldiers guarding the school left.

    She said: “They took 10 of the children but returned four after profiling them. Those whose parents were not rich, were released, while those whose parents were rich were taken away. Apparently, they came when the soldiers guarding the school had left. It was around 6am. And it seems they targeted when the security personnel would leave. The kidnappers knew their timing.

    “The school should release our children for us.  We are not saying we won’t return them but we want permanent security.  When they secure the place, we would return our kids.”

    Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, who was at the school, declined comment. The school also refused to talk.

    A member of the House of Assembly representing Epe Constituency II, Segun Olulade said the parents’ request to take their children home was granted to calm frayed nerves.

    The government, he said, had improved on the schools’ security, adding that everything would be done to rescue the pupils.

    The Nation learnt that Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Commander Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, and some security chiefs have gone on an aerial surveillance of the creeks.

    The police command described the gunmen as pirates/kidnappers, adding that they struck around 5am.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Polce (ASP), said investigation and rescue operations had begun.

    He said: “From the visit to the school by the CP, it was found that the criminal elements used the Imeru/Iji waterway to access the swampy forest bordering the school and bore a hole on a part of the fence to gain entrance.

    “The dastardly act of these criminal elements is nothing other than sheer wickedness as there is no justification whatsoever to abduct innocent children. The trauma parents/guardians and relatives of the innocent children are going through can be imagined.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler at Ibeju-Lekki, Baale Salino Kareem.

    The 75-year-old Baale was whisked away around 2am on Sunday when the gunmen invaded his palace through the waterways.

    The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically before taking the man away in their speedboats.

    According to residents, the kidnappers established contact after 48 hours and demanded N20 million as ransom.

    This is just as five persons kidnapped in the area in March have regained their freedom. It was gathered that the victims were released after paying N3million ransom each.

    The Baale’s kidnap was said to have thrown the community into panic, with residents fleeing for safety.

    It was gathered that the development prompted the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to visit the area and assure the residents of security.

    During the interactive session with Owoseni, another monarch, Oba

    Muyiwa Ogunbekun appealed for proper monitoring of the waterways.

    He said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed anymore. Kidnappers have taken over Ibeju-Lekki. We want proper monitoring of the waterways by providing us with marine police and gun boats.

    “We know police are doing their best but the best is not enough. We want adequate security of our waterways.”

    Tosin Oshinuga said: “The kidnappers are not ghosts and live in our mist. Some of our youths should work with the security agencies to contain kidnapping and other vices.”

     

  • Pharmacist arrested for ‘plotting’ boss’ kidnap

    A pharmacist, identified simply as Emeka, has been arrested by the police for allegedly masterminding the kidnap of his boss, Donatus Duru.

    Duru, owner of a pharmaceutical company at Ilupeju, was kidnapped in February by a group which refused to release him even after collecting a N150million ransom.

    The Evans Gang, it was gathered, demanded one million Euros as ransom or he would be killed.

    Since the payment of the N150 million, his family has been begging for his release to no avail.

    But on Friday, Duru reportedly came from his kidnappers in Igando and ran to the police.

    Before his escape, policemen attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) had been combing the creeks for him.

    He was said to have described the Igando den to policemen, who stormed the place and arrested two members of the gang last Saturday.

    The operatives also rescued a Caucasian man chained to a pole and recovered four AK47 rifles, two English made pistols, 60 magazines and about 60,000 live ammunition.

    A police source said the victim claimed he overheard Emeka’s voice in the den few days after he was kidnapped.

    He said: “The victim said that few days after he was kidnapped, he overheard the voice of pharmacist Emeka, who has been under his employ for long, discussing with his kidnappers in an adjoining room. He said he heard him asking members of the gang keeping watch over him whether they had contacted members of his family.

    “Subsequently, he kept on coming and giving directives to those keeping watch over him where he was chained on the leg and blindfolded inside one of the rooms in a flat.

    ” A few days before his escape, the victim said Emeka came and re-assured them that he had signed all the documents for the release of goods worth about N7million from his warehouse and also came the next day, Thursday to boldly question why they had not killed him as agreed.

    “He reportedly left after he was assured that they would carry out the killing by next Friday. At this stage, the victim said he gave up hope of freedom and was waiting for his death sentence to be carried out.

    “However, early that Friday morning, he was able to unchain himself while his captors were deeply asleep with their guns. He escaped through the back door, landing in the next compound, where a security guard jumped at him and branded him a thief.

    “He said that after narrating his story to the guard, he told him to wait but he did not see him again after waiting for a long time. Later, he sneaked out of the compound and hid in an obscure corner as he was unable to go further because of the sprain he had on the leg after jumping down from the high fence wall.

    “Around 5am, he saw some passersby and ran out to narrate his plight to them, pleading that they help him.  But, the people turned around to accuse him of being a thief and nearly succeeded in lynching him save for the intervention of one of them, who after listening to his story, insisted that they should call any of his relations for confirmation.

    “Luckily, they did and later took the badly wounded victim to Igando Police Station.”

    But another source claimed that Duru had gone into hiding for fear that the fleeing gang members may come after him and his family.

    The source claimed that the police failed to take the man into protective custody.

    It could not be ascertained if the kidnappers’ hideout had been sealed off and the building owner identified.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni confirmed the arrest of the two suspects, describing their arrest as “a huge success in crime busting”.

    He said: “The Evans Gang has been on the wanted list of many police commands for the kidnap of high profile Nigerians. They have engaged in a lot of atrocities, and so, it was a good one that two of the members were caught. We didn’t get Evans but he would be gotten soon.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa lawmaker’s mum, sister

    The sister and mother of the lawmaker representing Akwanga South in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, were  kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday.

    Police spokesman Kennedy Idirisu confirmed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia, yesterday.

    According to him, the gunmen stormed the lawmaker’s home at Moroa, Akwanga, about 8pm, shooting sporadically, before whisking the two women away.

    He said the police was collaborating with the vigilance groups to locate the victims.

    “As we speak, our men are already searching for the victims and to arrest the perpetrators,” Idirisu said.

    A family source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the abductors have contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N30 million.

    Efforts to speak to Mohammed-Kassim were unsuccessful.

  • Police nab two in Akwa Ibom over kidnap of polytechnic founder

    The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two persons linked to the kidnapping of Sure Foundation Polytechnic founder, Dr Idongesit Udom.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Donald Awunah, disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.

    Awunah stated that the suspects were helping the police in their investigation.

    He explained that the police were doing their best to ensure that the victim was rescued alive.

    “This type of matter does not require force since the life of a person is involved. We are not relenting in our efforts to get the man freed from the kidnappers.

    “The Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Operation Impact Strategy team have spread their intelligence; very soon, the man will be rescued,” he said.

    The commissioner appealed to the civil society to cooperate with security agencies by always giving information on crimes and criminal elements in their neighbourhood for prompt action.

    Udom was abducted by suspected kidnappers outside his country home in Ukanafun while walking to Qua Iboe Church on Sunday, April 9.

  • Gunmen kidnap eight sailors in Bayelsa 

    Gunmen kidnap eight sailors in Bayelsa 

    Naval troops are making frantic efforts to locate the whereabouts of eight sailors kidnapped in the Atlantic Ocean close to Brass waters in Brass Local Government Area Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the victims identified as employees of Tethys Nig. Ltd and Sylver Global Ltd were abducted on April 19 about 17 Nautical Miles off Brass terminal.

    The unidentified gunmen were said to have forcefully boarded the vessel after firing gunshots in the air to scare the sailors.

    The victims were identified as Smart Kungborde, Isaiah Ebiewe, Christopher Wisben, Gabriel Enayon, Sylvester Ovwigho, Mathew Enegbuma and Kelly Shaka.

    The abductors were said to have stolen all their victims’ valuables, hounded them into their speedboats and drove them to an unknown place.

    It was however gathered troops of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Fomoso at Egweama in Brass were making some efforts to free the captors.

    Navy authorities in the state kept mute on the matter following an indication the affected vessel belonged to a powerful politician and retired senior naval officer from the state.

    But the politician with the companies was said to have established contacts with the gunmen and gone far in negotiation for a ransom to free the abductors.

    A senior security source, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development and said the victims were still held by the kidnappers.

  • Gunmen kidnap poly lecturer in Aba

    Unknown gunmen have abducted a lecturer, Mr. Nkwachi Brown in Aba, Abia State.

    It was gathered that Brown, popularly known as ‘Macky’, who lectures at the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, was on Thursday, kidnapped along Opobo road, Aba, on his way to a meeting.

    It was further gathered that Brown and his friend were cruising in a vehicle when the gunmen struck, near the offices of local radio station in the city.

    Close associates of the lecturer stated that the gunmen are yet to contact his family four days after his abduction. This has heightened tension about his safety.

    Abia State Police Public Relations Officer,  DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the incident is yet to be reported to the Police.

    Meanwhile, residents of Bourdex Avenue and Iroegbu street, Ogbor Hill, Aba have a sent a save our soul message to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, over the spate of robbery attacks in the area.

    The residents lamented that the hoodlums have laid siege in the area, breaking into houses and dispossessing them of cash and other valuables and appealed to the Police boss to deploy security to the area.

    A cross section of residents of Bourdex Avenue, said they no longer sleep as the robbers who are armed with sophisticated weapons attack them as early as 8pm.

    “We are appealing to the Police to deploy security around Bourdex Avenue, robbers have laid siege to the area. If you visit this area any time from 7pm, you will not meet anybody on the road due to fear of the robbers. Most times, they will continue shooting guns while moving from one house to the other. No day passes without incidents of robbery attacks in one household or the other by these hoodlums who are well armed. They come with ladder, iron breaking equipment and torchlight. The security agencies should extend their patrol to the area.”

    Narrating his ordeal, a resident of Iroegbu Street who gave his name as Mr. Stanley, said he was almost killed while returning from a business trip at about 8.30pm as the robbers inflicted injuries on him and dispossessed him of a huge amount of cash and his telephones.

    He added that the two residents of the area are still suffering from machete injuries they suffered from the robbers, penultimate Thursday to Wednesday of every week and use Thursdays and Fridays to farm”.

  • Two charged with attempt to kidnap employer’s daughter

    Two factory workers, Idowu Azeez and Abdullahi Jablet, were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates Court for allegedly attempting to kidnap their employer’s daughter.

    Azeez, 26, and Jablet, 22, whose addresses were not given, were arraigned before Magistrate  O. O. Otitoju on one-count of attempted kidnap.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Innocent Odugbo said the duo committed the offence on March 6 and 7, at 10, Obiajunwa Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos.

    He alleged that they conspired to kidnap Miss Isioma Ogbuachara, their employer’s daughter, at a sachet water factory. But a security guard overheard their discussion and told their employer about the plan.

    Odugbo said the offence contravened Section 404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Otitoju granted them N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The sureties must be employed, he said. One of them must be the defendants’ relation while the other must be a property owner in Lagos State.

    Otitoju adjourned the case till April 14.

  • I was misled to kidnap my mistress’ daughter, says suspect

    I was misled to kidnap my mistress’ daughter, says suspect

    A KIDNAP suspect, Grace John, yesterday alleged that she was deceived into kidnapping her mistress’ daughter by a man who claimed to be the child’s biological father.
    John, apprentice of Mrs. Oluwatobiloba Adebiyi, mother of Oluwasemilore, who was kidnapped in Lagos but found in Abia State, said one Samuel told her that the baby is his.
    John was paraded at the Lagos State Police Command yesterday with two other women, Rita Eze and Ugochi Nweke, who allegedly bought the girl from her.
    According to the apprentice, Samuel told her that Mrs Adebiyi got pregnant for him before marrying another man.
    She said in January, Samuel took her to the woman’s shop at Alagbado from where she took the child to a woman said to be her grandmother.
    John denied kidnapping other children across the state, insisting that she is not a kidnapper.
    The police said the child was sold to three persons for N500,000 and N600,000 before she was rescued in Aba, Abia State.
    But John said: “Samuel told me the woman is his former girlfriend who married another man and that he wanted to take his child from her for proper care. Samuel took me to the woman’s shop in Alagbado. I pretended that I wanted to learn bead making from her and we agreed on the modalities.
    “After seven days, I told the woman I was going to buy Gala and I took the girl with me to Kola Bus Stop where I met Samuel, who instructed me to take her to his grandmother in Onitsha, Anambra State, because he is in school.
    “The following day, I boarded a bus to Onitsha and met the woman (Rita Eze). I handed over the child to her and she gave me N60,000 for transport.
    “I never knew the child was not Samuel’s and I have never thought what I did was kidnapping. I just wanted to help a man who cried to me that his child is not being properly taken care of. I have not done it before.”
    Eze said she knew Samuel through an old classmate of hers, who told her they needed someone to take care of his child.
    She claimed after taking delivery of the child, Samuel told her to sell the girl and she did.
    The suspect said: “I met my old friend at an event in December and she told me her nephew (Samuel) has a child and that they needed someone to take care of the child.
    “She gave Samuel my number and he called to say his girlfriend will bring a child from Lagos. When Grace brought the girl, Samuel told me to sell the girl which I gave to Ugochi.
    “Ugochi gave me N500,000. I gave Grace N60,000 and took N40,000. I sent the rest to Samuel. I never knew him before, I thought the child was his. I never knew the child was kidnapped. I only accepted to help sell the child because I needed money to pay my house rent.”
    Nweke denied knowing the baby was kidnapped, adding that she did not collect a dime from the deal.
    She said she accepted to buy the baby for a friend of hers who has no child.
    Nweke said: “I told Rita if she has or knows any motherless child that I have someone who is in need of a child to adopt and she told me she will get back to me.
    “When she called me that she has the child, I asked if it is genuine and she said yes. I informed my friend who provided the money. I never took anything from the money. I handed everything to Rita.”
    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said the suspects would be prosecuted.