The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap

  • Alleged kidnap: Police exonerate pastor

    A pastor accused of kidnapping a seven-year-old boy has been exonerated by the police.

    Pastor Ernest Chukwu-emeka Nwankwo of Holy Family, Happy Family Ministry in Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos was freed after the police found that he has “no case to answer”.

    A woman, Rosemary Chukwu who allegedly kidnapped Emmanuel Emeka on June 25, claimed that Nwankwo sent her on the mission.

    When she was apprehended by a mob, with Emeka concealed in a travelling box, Rosemary alleged that Nwankwo paid her N4million to steal the boy.

    But, Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said yesterday that Nwankwo “has no case to answer”.

    She said the pastor was granted bail because of lack of substantive evidence against him.

    Braide, however, said detectives were still investigating the case, adding that if anything implicating is found against Nwankwo, he would be re-arrested.

    Braide said: “The prophet is on bail. We can’t just detain someone because of allegation that cannot be substantiated. From preliminary investigations, we have not found any evidence to detain him. We have also sent the woman who made the allegation to the psychiatric hospital to ascertain her sanity; we are awaiting the result. The children found with the woman on the day of incident are nowhere to be found.

    The ministry, through its spokesman, Evangelist Patrick Adebayo, had earlier denied all allegations made against Nwankwo.

    The prophet said the woman found with the boy was neither a member nor a worker of the ministry.

    He stressed that the building where some people were found in chains was only used as praying ground for lunatics and not for ritual purposes as alleged.

  • SDP seeks probe of members’ kidnap

    SDP seeks probe of members’ kidnap

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Muhammed Abubakar, to investigate the circumstances leading to the alleged kidnap of three of its members in Osun State at the weekend.

    The state party Chairman, Mr. Ademola Isola, in a statement in Osogbo, expressed concern over the incident, calling on all security agencies to be on the watch as the August 9 Osun governorship election approaches.

    He said SDP members, including the party chairman in Ede-North Local Government, Alhaji Adewimbi Kadiri, Mrs. Titilayo Alaanu and Mrs. Musili Usman, were abducted during their house-to-house campaign at Alusekere ward of Ede on Saturday.

    The SDP Chairman thanked the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, for his timely intervention and the DSS for treating his party members, who were found with no incriminating materials, with respect.

    “But we still want the IG to investigate this matter,” he said.

  • Okon in kidnap nightmare

    These are strange and very interesting times in Nigeria. It is becoming increasingly difficult to separate living from a permanent nightmare and horrible reality from realistic horror. Even for a Stone Age society, there are some horrors that are simply unimaginable. But they are for real. The widespread trading in human parts induces a suspension of reality in the sane and sober.

    Is this an official scam to turn everybody into compulsory vegetarians? At least in Ancient Rome when African gladiators were trotted out to fight animals unto death, they were given the chance of a honourable exit. But this new Negro necrophilia on the Equator suggests a vast cuckoo’s nest from which no one can escape.

    Increasingly, snooper finds himself taking to bed to avoid the seemingly inevitable. But it turns out that even the bed is no longer a bed of roses. The bed is a bedlam in its own right. Last Friday as snooper lay in bed ruminating about the heinous crimes in the land, particularly the recent idiotic nonsense about the Nigerian economy overtaking South Africa, the phone suddenly rang. It was Okon sounding agitated and distraught.

    “Okon, where are you?” snooper bellowed.

    “Oga, katakata don burst. Agaracha don….” the boy mumbled.

    “I say: where are you? You’ve gone to the market for over five hours now”, snooper screamed, cutting him off.

    “Oga, monkey don go market and he no go return. Dem kidnapper don get man”, Okon replied.

    “If they like let dem keep you forever”, snooper raved. At this point a voice in the background demanded the phone from Okon and then began in clear crisp English.

    “This is General Constitution Iponkiri. We have your boy”, the voice announced.

    “And you can keep him forever”, Snooper screamed.

    “Send us five million before evening or we shall cook one of the boy’s legs and send it to you as pepper soup”, the general announced calmly and without any fuss or funfair.

    “Oga, if I be your son…” Okon whined in the background.

    “You can do whatever you like with him. I don’t negotiate with criminals” snooper cursed with much distemper.

    “You see, it is you we actually want, and we know how to get you. I can tell you that you are wearing blue pyjamas and lying on the bed with lots of books”, the general continued as fear crept up the spine of yours sincerely.

    “What?” Snooper exclaimed in disbelief.

    “I can also tell you that there is an unfinished bottle of beer under your bed”, the poker-faced terrorist continued.

    “E la tanran ooo!” snooper screamed in acute distress as he lapsed into ancient Ife dialect. The force of the exclamation was such that he hit his head against the bed and woke with a searing headache. And there was Okon bringing tea with a devilish smile.

    “Oga, abi you be kidnapper sef? I been dey hear you speak to dem”, the mad boy chortled with satanic relish.

    “Get lost!” snooper screamed in alarm.

    “Oga, if you be kidnapper, I get business” Okon noted with a wink, Snooper leapt at the mad boy who fled shouting, “Oga wan kidnap me oooooo!!!”.

  • Clark’s son orchestrated his kidnap – MEND

    Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) on Monday claimed that Mr. Ebikeme, the son of the Ijaw National Leader, Chief E.K. Clark orchestrated his kidnap.

    The militant group in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, alleged that a ransom of N500million was shared by persons involved in the scam.

    MEND said the ransom was paid by the Delta State Government from its security vote.

    Insisting that Ebikeme stage-managed his abduction, MEND accused the Delta Police Command of lying to members of the public that no ransom was paid.

    The statement said: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has confirmed that the kidnap of Mr Ebikeme Clark, the son of Chief E.K Clark, was actually a clever orchestrated fraud masterminded by Ebikeme who stage-managed his own abduction.

    “A ransom of 500Million Naira was paid by the Delta State Government from its security vote and was shared amongst all those involved in this scam.

    “Mr Ebikeme is following in the footsteps of his father where the Senior Clark is amongst those that hatched the fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty Programme which has only made billionaires of a few thugs and him, at the detriment of millions of impoverished indigenes and the peace and security in the region.

    “It is rather unfortunate that in a desperate bid for relevance and extra funds to maintain a private jet, certain unscrupulous persons, including the Delta State Police will conspire to deceive Nigerians with a phantom abduction, release of the so-called hostage, influence over kidnapers and arrest of suspects and denying the payment of a ransom which has already been shared.”

  • Kidnap of Clark’s Son: Tension hightens as Police arrest suspect

    The ongoing search for the kidnapped politician and second son Chief Edwin Clark, the Ijaw leader, Ebikeme Clark, has continued to generate ethnic tension and anger from across Ijaw nation, even as police makes its first arrest.

    The Delta state police command, Thursday, confirmed, that it arrested a suspect in connection with the kidnap of Ebikeme Clark at the waterfront where the gang escaped from.

    As the search goes on, however, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has warned the Clarke family to resist any pressure to pay ransom for the release of their loved one, noting that it had initiated a plan, which would be executed in collaboration with security agencies, to free the hostage without cost.

    Ebikeme, who contested for a National Assembly seat on the platform of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the 2011 elections, was reported kidnapped Wednesday evening in Kiagbodo, Burutu council area of Delta state.

    The Nation gathered that Ebi, as he is fondly called, was at the site of the E.K. Clark University of Technology, where he had gone to attend to the wages of site work men when the gang of kidnappers attacked him, firing several shots into the air to scare workers away from the vicinity.

    Although there was yet to be any contact with the family by the kidnappers as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the family and the intelligence gathering unit of the Ijaw major bodies already knew where the kidnappers headed to with their hostage.

    Efforts to get Ijaw national Leader, Chief Clark, to speak on the development failed, but some persons close to him gave an idea of what the situation was.

    Chief Clark’s counsel, Barr. Dickson Bekederemo, was the first to informed the Nation of the arrest of one of the suspects, adding that the entire Ijaw nation had been upset by the development.

    “It was done in collaboration with some Urhobo boys and one of them has been arrested. He’s from Aladja. They are yet to make any contact with the family, but all efforts are being made to ensure that he is rescued at no cost. The entire Ijaw nation is angry over this”, Bekederemo said.

    In its reaction to the development, IYC, in a statement issued and circulated to the media in Warri on Thursday by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the council said it had spread its contacts out to all accesses surrounding the direction the kidnappers headed, instructing that they be fished out.

    The council, which pointed out that it would work with security agencies in Delta and Bayelsa states to secure Ebi’s freedom, warned the Clark family not to pay ransom, saying this is the only way to discourage kidnapping in the Niger Delta.

    “The preliminary investigation by the IYC reveals that Mr. Ebi Clark was taken to the kidnappers’ hideout through the Kiagbodo River which connects the Ramos and Forcados Rivers in Delta and Bayelsa States. To that extent, IYC Clan officials in Oporomo, Ingbelebiri, Mein and Seimbiri Clans of Bayelsa and Delta States have been mandated to trace and fish out the kidnappers. The IYC officials would work with security agencies in Delta and Bayelsa States to ensure the release of Mr. Ebi Clark.

    “The IYC once again wish to state its irrevocable commitment to fight kidnapping in particular and criminality in general in Ijaw land. While efforts are been made by the IYC in conjunction with security agents to free Mr. Ebi Clark, we wish to advice family members not to pay any sort of ransom so as to discourage kidnapping in Ijawland and the Niger Delta region,” the statement said.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), has confirmed the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of a car in connection with the case.

    “An arrest has been made and a car recovered so they are transferring it to the state anti-kidnap unit for investigation. The suspect was arrested near the waterside and his vehicle was recovered”, she said.

    She also said police was yet to be informed of any contact with the family by the kidnappers or a demand for ransom.

  • Gunmen kidnap couple in Bayelsa

    Eight gunmen struck at Konga, a community in Akassa, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, and abducted a couple.

    The victims were identified as Mr. and Mrs. Joel Kido, parents of a maritime businessman in the community.

    But Mr. Kido reportedly escaped from his captors by jumping into the river.

    While Kido is said to be 65-years-old, the wife is 50.

    A source said there was an attempt by some gunmen to kidnap Mr. Kido last year, but that he luckily escaped.

    “This time, they came again when Kido and his wife were sleeping. They bundled them into the boat. As they were escaping with them, Kido jumped into the river. The gunmen only took his wife,” the source who pleaded for anonymity said.

    The gunmen were said to have stormed the couple’s home on Monday at about 12.10am.

    The victims were sleeping when their assailants struck.

    There were allegations that the incident occurred following an unresolved issue between the businessman and his workers over unpaid wages.

    The hoodlums are yet to establish contact with the family of the victim.

    The police confirmed the incident and said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Alex Akhigbe, said the suspects had made useful statements.

    He said the police were making efforts to locate the kidnappers and free their victim.

    In a related development, suspected sea pirates attacked a passenger boat traveling from Okpotuwari  to Otuan in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

    The pirates were said to have ordered all the passengers to jump into the river and later dismantled and took away the engine of the speedboat.

    The passengers were said to be returning from a wake at Okpotuwari when they pirates rounded them off.

  • Gunmen kidnap legislator in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the kidnap of Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, a member of the state House of Assembly, by unknown gunmen.

    The Spokesman of the command, Mr Haruna Mohammed, told newsmen in Bauchi that Nuhu, who represents Lame constituency in the House, was abducted on Monday night in Zalau village.

    Mohammed said that a police patrol team pursued the kidnappers into a forest on the boundary between Bauchi and Kaduna states.

    He said that the kidnappers abandoned their car when they realised they were being pursued by the police and took Nuhu into the forest.

    He said that the police had cordoned off the area and were searching for the kidnappers and their victim.

    Mohammed said that the car had been recovered, adding that eight rounds of ammunition were found in it.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nuhu is the latest victim of kidnapping in the state.

    It would be recalled that three health workers on polio vaccination exercise were abducted in Darazo town on March 2; two of the workers were later released.

    The third victim, Malam Ali Garba, is still being held by the abductors, even as the police command says its men are doing their best to free Garba from his abductors. (NAN)

  • Gunmen kidnap two registration officers in Ebonyi

    •Abductors demanding N2m ransom

    •Police: no official signal yet on incident

    Gunmen at the weekend kidnapped two registration officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    The kidnappers were said to be demanding N2 million from the families of the party officers.

    The victims are: Donatus Omenyi and Moses Anyior.

    They were reportedly abducted from their homes at Nwekeisioffia, Umuezekoha community, by five armed men at 2am.

    The wife of one of the victims, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen were allegedly led by a brother to a top official of the local government, simply identified as Okey.

    The abductors were said to have threatened to deal with members of the family, if they refused to dump APC for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She said: “Five men, armed with weapons, invaded our house at 2am. They forced the door open and demanded to see my husband, who was hiding behind the door. I told them that my husband was not around, but Okey ordered the men to enter into our house. They found my husband and took him away. Later, they called, demanding N2 million or we forget APC.”

    The member representing Ezza North/Ishielu in the National Assembly, Peter Ede, confirmed the incident.

    He said the community had begun moves to reach the local government chairman and the traditional ruler on how to rescue the kidnap victims.

    Edeh said he held a meeting with the monarch of Umuezekoha community, Ezeogo Igboke Ewa, on the incident.

    The lawmaker condemned the political intolerance of the PDP in the community.

    He begged APC supporters to remain calm, assuring that the party was planning to rescue its abducted officers.

    Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said he was aware of the incident but had not got an official signal from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area.

  • Kidnap: Two brothers to die by hanging

    Justice Marshall Mukoro of a Delta High Court, sitting in the Warri Judicial Division, yesterday sentenced two brothers to death by hanging for kidnap and murder.

    He sentenced Monday Asakpa and Mathew Ejedegba, for their involvement in the kidnap and murder of Ifeanyi Akukalia, despite collecting a ransom of N2 million.

    The victim was the only son of his parents.

    The second accused, Paul Ejedegba, the younger brother to the fourth accused, who was condemned to death, was, however, sentenced to 17 years behind bars with hard labour, while the third accused, Ogaga Okuome, was discharged on the five-count charge.

    Also, a nurse, Florence Ojo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for dousing her cousin with concentrated acid.

    The court found the accused guilty on the two-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder and sentenced her to a two-year imprisonment on each of the count.

  • Most wanted kidnap kingpin Kelvin held

    Most wanted kidnap kingpin Kelvin held

    The sensational reign of Niger Delta’s most wanted criminal suspect came to an abrupt end in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday morning. He was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Kelvin Ibruvwe’s arrest led to a gun battle between his supporters and security operatives in his Kokori, Delta State hometown Wednesday afternoon.

    Ibruvwe, who is popularly known by his first name, was arrested at an undisclosed hotel in the Garden City about 3:25am by DSS operatives who stormed the city from Abuja last Friday.

    It was gathered that the deployment of the special unit followed Ibruvwe’s pronouncement of a 60-day ultimatum on the Federal Government.

    He is fingered in dozens of high profile kidnap and armed robbery operations.

    The suspect is also wanted for the death of 20 security operatives, including soldiers of the Nigerian Army, mobile policemen, and three Warri Prisons wardens, who were gunned down in a brazen daylight operation in Warri.

    A notorious kidnap suspect, said to be a close ally of Ibruvwe’s, who was being taken to court with other inmates, was freed by the gang.

    The ultimatum to the Federal Government at a rally in Kokori on September 18 may have moved the authorities to go after the suspect.

    To security agents, the declaration was a desperate attempt by Ibruvwe to portray himself as an ethnic warlord and activist.

    “After he gave that ultimatum, the top echelon of the nation’s security apparatuses felt that it was time to bring him down. So, a special unit was drafted in from Abuja to work with a small, close unit of men on the ground.

    “He was trailed to Port Harcourt. Having positively ID-ing (identifying) him as the man we were after, the 3 Battalion of the JTF (Joint Task Force) was called in and placed on alert,” a source privy to the operation told our reporter.

    The spokesperson of JTF’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the arrest of Kelvin in a telephone interview with our reporter.

    He said, “It is true that he (Kelvin) has been arrested. He was arrested this (Wednesday) morning by the SSS after he was smoked out of his hideout by the JTF. It was a joint operation with the SSS.”

    A top official of the SSS in Delta State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Well, operatives of the service picked Kelvin as early as 3am today (Wednesday) and he is in the service’s custody.

    “He has been escaping, but today (Wednesday) his cup is full. Investigation is still going on,” the SSS official said.

    The Delta State Police Command expressed confidence that the feat would further reduce the rate of kidnapping in the state.

    A statement signed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration) in the state, Onyire Kaneneolisa, said: “The arrest of the kingpin will greatly mellow the on-going battle against kidnappers in the state.”

    Top SSS sources confirmed that Kelvin was immediately moved from Port Harcourt to Asaba, the Delta State capital, after his arrest.

    Kokori community was tense yesterday.

    A source, who was trapped in the community, said: “Kokori is boiling as I am talking to you now. The soldiers and the youths are exchanging fire seriously. Many persons have been killed. Everybody is running helter-skelter.”

    The source said the youths were armed with “ AK-47 rifles, pump action shotguns and even dane-guns”.

    It was gathered that trouble broke out when troops invaded a shrine to arrest a juju priest, who is fingered as a charm-maker for Kelvin and his gang.

    Security operatives said some youths resisted the arrest and opened fire on the troops, a development that sparked off an exchange of gunfire.

    After several hours of gun duel, the ragtag local militias bowed to the superiority of the troops, who arrested dozens of youths from the community.

    A high ranking military officer, who pleaded not to be named, confirmed the arrests.

    He said: “We arrested some suspects who will be quizzed by detectives and intelligence officers to ascertain the level of their involvement in the fracas.

    There is fear among some Urhobo politicians and community leaders following Ibruvwe arrest.

    The Nation learnt that some of the panicky leaders included those who had had dealings with Ibruvwe.

    “We know that he enjoyed the support of some Urhobo leaders and even politicians from other parts of the state. These people should be really worried because if they are implicated in his confession, they would face the same consequences,” an SSS source said.

    The arrest of the kidnap kingpin elicited celebrations from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and other top officials o f the state government.

    The governor was in a meeting with traditional rulers in his office when he got details of the arrest on Wednesday.

    Sources at the event said governor Uduaghan confirmed the cheery news to traditional rulers and other government officials.