The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap

  • Kidnap: NUT urges government to improve security

    Kidnap: NUT urges government to improve security

    Through its local chapter in Lagos State, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday appealed to the three tiers of government to improve security in schools.

    The state chairman, Mr Segun Raheem, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that teachers and pupils were entitled to a secured teaching and learning environment.

    He was reacting to the abduction of four students, a principal and a teacher at Lagos State Model College, Igbonla near Epe.

    Raheem counselled government against wait for unpleasant events to occur before addressing security challenges, especially in schools.

    According to him, such events should be avoided to prevent the psychological effect they would have on the pupils and the trauma experienced by kidnapped victims.

    He called for the introduction of security education into the school curriculum. This, he said, would give pupils some security tips.

    Raheem said that security should also be extended to primary schools, not minding the fact that secondary schools had so far been affected.

    The chairman called for the extension of “Eko Educational Project’’ to primary schools, adding that no one builds a castle in the air.

    According to him, the government seemed to have schemeed out primary schools in the Eko Project.

    “Catch-them-young should be our slogan; the primary schools are for educational foundation. “It is the foundation that ought to be laid before we put the secondary super structure,’’ Raheem said.

  • Igbonla Kidnap: We’ll soon rescue victims – Ambode

    Igbonla Kidnap: We’ll soon rescue victims – Ambode

    …Says Govt’ll Review Law To Tackle Kidnapping

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday assured that the State Government in collaboration with security agencies would soon rescue victims kidnapped from Lagos Senior and Junior Model College, Igbonla-Epe, vowing that the government would also commence a review of its laws to curb and effectively punish perpetrators of such act.

    The Governor, who spoke shortly after carrying out an extensive inspection of projects across the State, also issued a 7-day ultimatum for all illegal structures on the State’s waterfront to be demolished.

    Speaking to journalists at the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos Island, the Governor who was visibly worried about the erection of several shanties and structures within the premises and especially on the waterfront, said such would not be allowed in the State anymore.

    He said kidnappers, suspected militants and criminally minded persons often seek refuge in such shanties close to the waterfront, from where they perpetrate their heinous crimes and then make use of the waterways to ferry their victims to another location, in most cases to another state.

    The Governor said, “I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to all those living in the shanties around these schemes especially on the waterfront illegally that they should vacate the areas forthwith.

    “You will see that most of the issues that we have with kidnappings are actually being brought up by those who are illegal settlers by the waterfront. We will commence demolition of all the shanties around the creeks in Lagos State and also around our waterways in the next seven days. I have given directives to that effect to the appropriate agencies.

    “The safety of our children and all Lagosians is paramount in this administration. We will not allow a few set of people who come into Lagos and stay on our waterfront illegally and then use it as opportunity to kidnap our people. I also want to assure our people that government is seriously on the issue of the children and the teachers that were kidnapped in the Igbonla Model College and very soon, we will get the victims back.

    “I believe that the era of kidnapping has come to an end. We are going to review our laws and I can tell you sincerely that we will deal with kidnappers squarely in Lagos from this moment onwards. We will review our laws and make sure that there is no room for kidnappers in this State”.

    Governor Ambode, who also spoke on the plans to continue construction of the Illubirin Housing Scheme, said his administration has taken time to review its mortgage scheme vis-à-vis its financial flow, adding that the Illubirin axis would be designed as live, work and play environment under a private sector initiative.

    “In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next few months, we will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out. We believe strongly that people should be able to pay one month rent and live in our housing schemes.

    “We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and pay one year rent. We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger ones to just pay one month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme,” Governor Ambode said.

    Also speaking, Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been abandoned saying that the project has been remodeled to accommodate 500 housing units.

    He said government, in collaboration with a private investor who is investing about $500 million into the scheme, has perfected plans to make the scheme a live, play and work environment.

    He said about five hectares would be dedicated for leisure, while there would also be commercial activities, as well as flyover which would be constructed.

    Governor Ambode also inspected the Federal Government Guest House in Marina which has been handed over to the State Government and the ongoing ultra modern Bus Terminal in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.

  • kidnap son of UNICAL dean, shoot lecturer

    The son of the Dean of Graduate School of the University of Calabar, Onyebuchi Okwueze, has reportedly been abducted from the staff quarters of the institution by unknown gunmen.

    Okwueze, a 24-year-old first year student of the Department of Banking and Finance, was abducted on Wednesday, The Nation gathered yesterday.  He has not been released as at the time of filing this report.

    A statement by the Information Officer of the school, Mr Effiong Eyo, copy of which was made available to our reporter in Calabar, read, “Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers yesterday stormed the premises of the Dean, Professor Emeka Okwueze, who was unavailable at the time of the attack, broke into his house and made away with his Plasma television and his 24 year old son who was the only one at home.

    “The gunmen, who were said to have begun their operation at about 8.15pm, also inflicted injuries on a lecturer in the Physics department, Dr Anthony George and his wife who were driving in and got caught up in the attack. While Dr George was shot on his right hand, his wife sustained bullet injuries on the left knee. Both are, however responding to treatment.

    “Though they made unsuccessful attempts to gain entrance into the stretch of houses accommodating staff within the wing of buildings, the gunmen, however, smashed the mirror and front tyre of a Mercedes Benz vehicle belonging to a Professor in the College of Medical Sciences, Prof Chucks Ejezie.

    “It will be recalled that in the month of May this year, kidnappers invaded the same wing of buildings and took away with them the son of a Deputy Registrar, Barr Ekpenyong Iniama and the wife and daughter of Prof Wilfred Ndifon of the College of Medical Sciences, both were later released.

    “In a bid to checkmate future occurrence of the event, the Deputy Chief Security Officer of the Institution, DSP Jarlath Abang disclosed that several security measures were put in place by the management of the institution in conjunction with the Cross River State Government.

    “The measures covered and implemented in the joint initiative include among others , demolition of all shanties at the waterfront by the Cross River State Government,  prohibition of fishing and farming at the water front, displacement of illegal occupants and constant patrol of the quarters both by security operatives on foot and vehicles.

    “The Deputy Chief Security Officer attributed the delay in the distress call as a major reason for the kidnappers’ tentative gain.

    “The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Zana Akpagu visited the homes of the Staff who were affected by the attack and commiserated with them over the unfortunate event and assured them of management concern over their welfare and pledged to do all within the purview of his office to ensure the release of those kidnapped and also catch up with the kidnappers.

    “He also promised to work with the relevant security agencies to ensure continued safety of lives and properties on campus.”

  • Panic as gunmen kidnap 14 oil workers in Rivers

    No fewer than 14 staff members of Nestoil Plc. have been abducted in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    According to eyewitnesses, the company’s bus conveying the workers to the office on Friday morning was accosted around Omoku town and diverted to an unknown destination.

    As at the time of filing in this report, details were still sketchy, but a senior police officer in the area told our correspondent that the police were already on the trail of the kidnappers.

    Also, all efforts made to reach company proved abortive as the only known contact was not reachable.

    However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said he has heard of the development, but quickly added that he does not have the details.

    Omoni, who promised to reach our correspondent later said, “I just have sketchy details, but I promise to get back to you soonest”.

  • Gunmen kidnap Uniport lecturer

    …Demands N2m ransom

    A Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Reginald Ohiri has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    Dr. Ohiri was reportedly kidnapped from his resident in Aluu, UNIPORT host Community Monday night.

    The state Police command could not confirm the incident as at the time of filing this report, Tuesday evening, but the Public Relation Officer of the University, Dr. Williams Wodi said it was true, but said details of the abduction was still sketchy to him as at the time of confirmation.

    But sources said his kidnappers have contacted the family members and placed a demand for N2 million to let the University Don off the hooks.

    His family members could also not be reached for their reactions.

    It was learnt that they intended to maintain sealed lips on the abduction, and probably also didn’t want to involve the security agencies.

    UNIPORT have witnessed several cases of abduction of its Lecturers in the past few years, especially last year.

     

  • Police arrest robbery, kidnap suspects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Police Command has again recorded some significant breakthroughs in crime fighting as are shown below:

    On Akokwa Street at Mile I, Diobu, Port Harcourt, the state capital, the police arrested robbers who had been terrorising the residents.

    This followed ze people and rob them of their belongings within Diobu were arrested through information as our operatives swiftly responded and in its wake, two persons were arrested, they are: Martins Binnan ‘m’, Zorbari Samuel ‘m’. Exhibits recovered from them include: one locally made Revolver pistol, four Rounds of live Ammunition. They are helping the police. Confessions made revealed that they are responsible for the attack of market women at the Education bus-stop, Mile 1 and Mile 3 Market axis. Meanwhile investigation is currently on going at the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Port Harcourt.

    Again acting on credible information, the Command’s Crack Team, smashed a kidnapping syndicate at a Bush in Rumuji where a kidnap kingpin by name Emmanuel ‘m’ alias Obirikon was arrested while others took to flight. He is helping the Police. Investigation is on-going.

    Three Hostages namely: Hart Moth ‘f’, Akintoye Ajala ‘f’ and Awo Allison ‘m’ who were travelling in a Boat from Port Harcourt to Bonny were rescued by the Command’s Crack Team. They were said to have been abducted by Sea Pirates at the Dutch Island Bonny. Diligent search and rescue operations of our men led to their release from the kidnappers’ den in Abonnema Creek. Again Investigation is on-going.

    At Obagi/Obite Gas Plant in ONELGA, Rivers State, the Command’s Operatives, foiled a Robbery attack on Policemen on duty. In the same operation, the combined Team of 48 PMF smashed the robbery gang where one long Assault Rifle (LAR) 19 rounds of live Ammunition were recovered including two motor cycles that were abandoned. The Police are on their trail as Investigation is on-going at the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Port Harcourt.

    At Aluu Community, acting on Information our men intercepted a Toyota Camry with Reg. No. KKE 432 AA colour Red with two occupants inside, they had serious injuries all over their bodies and were said to have been battered by angry mob. On searching the car, one English Berretta Pistol and some charms were found. However, the men were certified dead at the UPTH while Investigation is on-going.

    Operatives of the Command’s Tactical Unit rescued a kidnap victim by name Ebenezer Okpara who was abducted at the early hours of 25/7/2016 and taken to Ubimini. The victim was rescued after a fierce gun battle with the kidnappers, but had minor bruises. Items recovered from them include:

    One locally made gun, Nissan car with Reg. No. KNN 311 HW.

    Investigation is on-going at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Port Harcourt.

    The Command’s Anti Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping Units on a tip-off, stormed a criminal hideout at Buguma,  a place said to have been overrun by criminal elements, arrested 7 persons and recovered one locally made Revolver Pistol and a large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp. They are currently helping the police as Investigation is on-going.

    The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Command through Intelligence arrested one Chukwuemeka Nwokogba ‘m’ alias Ota Bread who is said to be a notorious kidnapper, Armed Robber and murderer, terrorizing the Etche axis of the State. The suspect upon interrogation confessed to the murder of the following persons: (1) a Pastor name not yet known but from Umuda Etche (2) Daughter of Munaonye and (3) Mr. Chimene former CDC Chairman of Obibi Community. He also confessed to the kidnap of a lady who is still being held in their camp by his gang. Other members of his gang include: Samuel Chika, (2) Ojemba Ikechukwu alias Isiewu and (3) Ogochi. The team acting on his confession, mobilized to their camp but on arrival they had relocated. Meanwhile the camp was destroyed. Investigation is still on-going at the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU).

    The Command’s Tactical Unit while on stop and search at the Polo Club GRA, Port Harcourt intercepted a metallic Gray Volkswagen Jetta car with Reg. No. 140 RD with six occupants on board. During search one locally made Revolver Pistol with 3 live .9mm Ammunition, including four Nokia Phones and two Tecno Ipad. Suspects have been arrested and are cooling their heels at the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

     The Command wishes to reiterate the need for continued public support and assistance to the command in the onerous task of ridding the entire state of criminal elements. While reassuring the good people of the State of their safety and security as they go about their lawful business.

  • Gunmen kidnap monarch Ondo

    A traditional ruler in Irele local government area of Ondo state, the Laragunsin of Iyasan community, Oba Abiodun Oyewumi has been reportedly kidnapped.

    The Nation learnt that the kidnappers, numbering 10 allegedly stormed the monarch’s palace on Monday night and operated for 30 minutes before taking him away.

    Since then, no contact has been made with his family by his abductors on what ransom should be paid for his release.

    A palace source said the hoodlums came into the village through Owena River which serves as boundary between Ondo and Edo state around 10.30pm and went straight to the palace where they demanded for the king.

    Irele Council Chairman, Hon Sanmi Elumaro, who confirmed the incident said the kidnappers numbering about 10 came into the town through the waterways and headed to the palace.

    He noted that the abdutors were fullly armed as no one in the community could challenge them until they finished their operations in the village.

    Elumaro said he could not say whether or not the kidnapping has to do with the chieftaincy dispute in the town as the monarch was properly installed as the monarch despite the legal tussle over the throne.

    The council boss said since the abduction, the Navy and the Police in the riverine area have been on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.

    The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph also confirmed the abduction of the monarch.

    He however said investigation has begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Joseph added that reporters would be briefed as soon as there is any breakthrough in the investigation.

  • Gunmen kidnap Abia Poly medical director 

    Gunmen kidnap Abia Poly medical director 

    Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped the Medical Director (MD) of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, identified as Dr. Eze Nwokocha at the commercial nerve of the state.

    The incident, Nation gathered took place on Sunday evening at about 7pm around Allwell Crescent near Aba Fire Service.

    Though information on his kidnap were sketchy, sources said that the medical doctor was going back from a village meeting in the city when the hoodlums believed to be trailing him struck and whisked away to an unknown destination.

    Family members were yet to be reached as at the time of filing this report, but it was however gathered that efforts were being intensified by Police and other security agencies to ensure that Nwokocha, an indigene of Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area was rescued unharmed and without any payment of ransom.

    In another development, a crack team of police detectives from Ogbor Hill Police Division, Aba are currently investigating a reported case of homicide which was committed in Aba based lawyer’s apartment.

    Unconfirmed reports have it that the child of the lawyer said to be between six to eight years old erroneously killed a female house help in their house with his father’s pistol.

    The lawyer’s child was said to have picked the father’s gun from his bedroom thinking that it was a toy gun not knowing that the gun was loaded.

    According to a source who pleaded anonymity, “the child pointed the gun at the maid and playfully said, ‘I will kill you’ and on pulling the trigger, the gun went off and shot at the house help.”

    The matter was said to have been transferred to the state CID for further investigation on the matter.

    But when contacted on his mobile phone, the state PPRO (Police Public Relations Officer), ASP Ogbonnaya Nta said that the kidnap matter was yet to be reported at the police station even as he confirmed the case of homicide even though he said that the report available to him has it that the made committed suicide.

  • UNILAG student in kidnap drama

    A 100-Level student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has accused two men wearing Jeans trousers, T-shirt and a military cap, of attempting kidnap her.

    She told The Nation that the incident happened last Thursday while she was on her way home from the popular Yaba market in Lagos, after buying some goods.

    The men, she said, ordered her to get into their Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and even followed her to the school gate.

    The student said: “I was about to cross at the Yaba Roundabout, beside the Cathedral Church, to board a bus to Ikeja when a silver colour SUV parked beside me.

    She said: “There were two guys in the car and one of them said, ‘how are you? Enter the car.’ I was shocked at the statement because I had never met them before. I continued walking and tried to cross the road but they blocked me with the car; then I became scared. I was finally able to cross and I boarded an Ikeja-bound bus and took a seat.

    “Before I knew it, both men got out of their SUV and walked to the bus I was in. They were both putting on Army caps. They told the bus driver that the bus would not move until I came down and talked to them. They claimed that they knew me, which was untrue. I told them I would not get off the bus and talk to them because I didn’t know who they were but they insisted and it resulted in an argument involving me, the soldiers, passengers and other bus drivers”.

    The student added: “The bus drivers later said I should get off the bus, saying they didn’t want any trouble, that I had probably dated one of the guys. This went on for a while until the soldiers and drivers went to the back of their SUV and continued the argument.

    “When I noticed the soldiers’ attention was not on me anymore, I came down from the bus and ran to board a UNILAG campus shuttle bus, hoping that would save me from them, but when I looked back while in the shuttle, I saw their car following the bus.

    “They followed the bus down to the UNILAG gate in Akoka. I alighted at the school gate and ran to the security gate. Their SUV followed me and parked close to the school gate, so I started shouting and crying, ‘They want to kidnap me.’ After a few minutes, they drove off. I had to call some of my male friends who followed me home.

    “I was so scared because I don’t know what those guys would have done to me, if I had not run to the campus shuttle that took me to school,” she said.

  • Gunmen kidnap ex-Deputy Speaker’s wife, daughter in Ogun

    Gunmen kidnap ex-Deputy Speaker’s wife, daughter in Ogun

    GUNMEN have abducted the Director of Information in Odogbolu Local Government Council of Ogun state, Mrs Nofisat Oshin, and her daughter, Miss Afolabi Oshin. They were whisked away to an unknown destination at gun – point.

    Nofisat and Afolabi are the wife and daughter of the former Deputy Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA), Dr Tokunboh Oshin.

    The duo were abducted by people suspected to be kidnappers along Akobi Street in Ijebu – Ode on Thursday around 8pm .

    The abductors have neither contacted victims’ family for any demand nor made any demand in form of ransom but they later abandoned the woman’s car at Okunowa community in Odogbolu Local Government.

    The Ogun Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) has condemned the abduction, describing it as “barbaric act.”

    In a statement by the Acting Chairman of NUJ in the state, Soji Amosu, he said Nofisat is one of the NUJ members, adding that her whereabouts and the daughter remained unknown.

    Amosu urged the “security agencies and the state government to fish out the perpetrators of the barbaric act.”