The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap

  • Kidnap suspect dead as police smash gang

    The police in Lagos at the weekend killed a suspected kidnapper, Festus Abama, during a gun battle at Agbowa in Ikorodu.

    They arrested Austine Ebimiyenwei, 27, an indigene of Arogbo Azapa community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Two others were said to have fled with bullet wounds.

    Abama, the police said, was shot inside the kidnappers’ den about 11am on Friday shortly after the suspects released two of their victims abducted on November 13 and 16.

    It was gathered that a gang of four kidnappers had stormed the home of Suleiman Ajumobi on November 13 and abducted his seven-year-old daughter.

    The kidnappers were said to have contacted the child’s father and demanded N25million ransom.

    Not satisfied, the gang, it was learnt, on November 16, kidnapped a policeman, Patrick Ewuru, who went out of his apartment to check his generator that suddenly went off.

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers demanded N10million ransom from his family.

    They, however, settled for N500,000 each from both families when they realised that their victims could not raise the amount demanded.

    Unknown to the kidnappers, the families had notified the police and the anti-kidnapping unit was directed by Commissioner Imohimi Edgal to apprehend the suspects.

    According to spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the unit asked the families to play along with the kidnappers for the safety of the victims.

    “As soon as the release of the two victims was secured, the kidnappers’ hideout at Agbowa was busted and Abama was killed in the ensuing gun battle, while Austine Inuesokan Ebimiyenwei surrendered.

    “The suspect confessed to the crime. The victims have identified the deceased and Austine Ebimiyenwei as those who kidnapped them. Efforts are being made to arrest those on the run, while the suspect, already in police custody, will be arraigned soon,” said Oti.

    The police dismissed the news making the rounds that the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) was under terrorists’ attack, noting that the viral video was of a simulation conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other agencies three years ago.

    Oti said the intelligence unit of the command had been tasked to fish out those behind the rumour for prosecution.

    He said: “The attention of the police commissioner has been drawn to a video trending on the social media purporting that the MMIA is under attack by terrorists.

    “In view of the disturbing video, the authorities of Lagos State Police Command contacted the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations at the Airport Command and he said the video was that of a simulation exercise carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in conjunction with other agencies at the airport three years ago.

    “The command assures the public that MMIA is safe and secure and not under any form of attack as wickedly portrayed by those behind the rumour.

    “The police commissioner has directed the command’s Intelligence Unit to unmask the persons behind the rumour for prosecution.”

  • Police arrest four kidnap, robbery suspects

    Abia State Police Command has arrested four men for allegedly belonging to a robbery and kidnap gang that has terrorised the state.

    The Nation learnt that the suspects were arrested following a complaint of threat to kidnap a resident.

    A police source, who pleaded not to be named, said operatives swung into action following the complaint and nabbed the suspects while planning the kidnap.

    Three of the suspects were identified as Chinedu Samuel, Emmanuel Okechukwu and Izuchukuwu Ajaegbu.

    During interrogation, they confessed to the crime.

    Okechukwu claimed that one Anurika introduced him to the gang of robbers and kidnappers, adding that the gang targeted school children, who they later sold off for illegal adoption, while adult victims regained freedom after paying ransom.

    He said: “It was Anurika who introduced me to the gang. We started by kidnapping two school children at Mbaise in Imo State.

    ”We abduct children and hand them over to Anurika to sell. We normally attract the kids with biscuits. We started kidnapping adults when one gateman in Aba told us that his boss did not pay him well.

    “I sold the idea of abducting the man for a ransom to him (the gateman) and he accepted it. We planned the deal, kidnapped the man and collected N5million as ransom from his family.

    ”We were arrested by the police while planning another operation.”

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

    He said they would be arraigned after investigation, adding that the command would speed up efforts to arrest other members of the syndicate.

  • Police smash syndicate specialized in issuing kidnapping threats

    Niger State Police Command has apprehended a syndicate of kidnappers that specializes in sending kidnap threats to victims in order to get paid.

    The suspects, Kabiru Madawaki, 26, Samaila Wanka, 35 and 20 years old Abubakar Umar. Others are Yushau Audi and Mohammed Sani from Mariga and Mashegun local government areas

    They were trailed  and arrested by a team of police detectives attached to the Command Special Anti-robbery Squad based on a tip-off.

    Read Also:Police nabs fake SARS personnel, 21 others

    Abubakar Madawaki was arrested after a business man, Alhaji Bahago reported to the police that a gang of kidnappers called him demanding N2 million or risk being kidnapped as he was said to have been called some years back to pay the sum of N500, 000 to avoid being kidnapped which he paid to them.

    The Police swung into action and arrested Abubakar who is part of a three man syndicate of kidnappers while the others are still at large.

    Kabiru Madawaki and Samaila Wanka who were arrested in Mariga had threatened three victims with kidnapping and received the total sum of N700, 000 from the victims.

    While Yushau Audu and Mohammed Sani wrote a threat letter to their victim demanding a sum of N4 million to avoid being kidnapped but were apprehended before they received the amount.

    When paraded by the Police in Minna, Abubakar Umar described kidnapping as a deadly game of chance and full of risk at which one either succeeds or get arrested.

    “For one to survive in this country you must take risk otherwise people will look at you as a lazy man. I did not have any formal education, the farm work l am into is not yielding good money and that was why I joined the fast lane to make money.

    “We make cool money in this business, most at times we call our rich victims to go to a particular spot to drop the ransom or faced being kidnapped and honestly they will do as we said because they are not ready to risk their lives.”

    He added that he did not regret his action in engaging in kidnapping, “I am not regretting anything. As i said earlier, kidnapping business is full of risk you either succeed or you are trapped now that I am in police net Allah knows the best.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar said that security operatives recovered one fabricated SMG rifle with five ammunitions from Umar while effort is intensified to arrest the two fleeing suspects.

    The Spokesman said investigation was on going, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court soon.

  • Three guards ‘attempt to kidnap’ Indian woman

    Three security guards were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to kidnap an Indian, Mrs Daisy Adah Vwarak,  for a N20 million ransom.

    Fineboy Fidelis Irown, 24, Emeka Richard, 19, and Unity Odoyi, 26, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, attempted kidnapping, demanding a ransom and threat to life.

    Prosecuting Inspector Benson Emuerhi told Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat that the defendants and others at large committed the offence on May 9, at Ilupeju, Lagos.

    Emuerhi said Irown, Richard and Odoyi attempted to kidnap Mrs Vwarak for N20,000,000.

    “They called Mrs Vwarak and told her they were hired killers, they threatened her through calls and told her she would be killed if she didn’t pay the sum of N20 million.

    “They  also   threatened Mrs Daisy through messages from one of them who called himself ‘point and kill’ using phone numbers 07089816369, IMEI 35785907049603 and 07082144870  while they gave her  a deadline of June 10 to pay the money,” he said.

  • ‘Loss of communal spirit responsible for rise in kidnap cases’

    Kidnap survivor, Folarin Banigbe recently launched a book detailing an account of his days in captivity. He spoke to Sunday Oguntola on the publication and the need to help survivors overcome the trauma.

    MOST kidnap survivors need post-abduction therapy and support to fully emerge from the ordeals intact, a survivor, Folarin Banigbe, has stated.

    Banigbe declared that many survivors return completely bruised and traumatised, unable to ever adjust to living after nervy encounters with their abductors.

    This, he said, is why many of them close up and internalise their pains instead of seeking closures and help.

    He spoke during the presentation of Abduction Chronicles, a 256-page gripping account of his five-day ordeals in the den of kidnappers in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State in May, 2016.

    He disclosed that there are far too many kidnap survivors than people can ever imagine, saying many, who have gone through the trauma never have the courage to tell anyone about it.

    Many of them, according to him, even hide the incident from family members because of the traumas involved, choosing instead to bear the pains alone .

    Lamenting the many traumas abduction survivors go through, Banigbe said: “It goes deeper than people ever admit. People begin to suspect everyone around them.

    “Everyone around you becomes a victim. It shatters your image and that of the family you have.”

    He stated that many survivors live with blank minds, trying hard to conceal their pains and troubles.

    Banigbe called for a support community for survivors, where they can compare notes, feel free and recount their ordeals without feeling threatened or intimidated.

    “I have learnt that we need to help ourselves, so that we can get a closure around the issue,” he stressed, explaining that this informed the establishment of abduction chronicles platform for survivors.

    The author, an ICT expert, blamed the escalation of crimes such as kidnapping on the disintegration of communal spirit among Nigerians.

    “Most of the people in crime are victims of their environments. It is not about security but the society. It is not more security we need but more of humanity.

    “We need to look out for ourselves. That is something else I learnt. If we don’t, we would all be in trouble. If someone is in distress and we look away, one day it will affect us too one way or the other,” Banigbe said.

    He went on: “We have become desensitised to crimes. Something is wrong with us. Otherwise, we will all run to America and America will chase us back.”

    He appealed to the society to support survivors and kidnappers to stem the worrisome increase in abductions in the nation.

    On his lessons from the ordeals, he said: “I realised the criminal mind has a valid reason. It doesn’t make sense to you but they have a basis and justification for all they do.”

    The keynote speaker, Yinka Ogunnubi, called on Nigerians to engage in more advocacies that will engender societal changes.

    A presidential aspirant, Dr John Dara, stated that Nigeria needs more social actions because “preaching will not change Nigeria but social structures will.”

    He canvassed social engineering to fight-off crimes such as kidnapping, saying “we need social engineering to trigger off ethical living.”

  • Farmer remanded for alleged kidnap of girl

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna at the weekend ordered the remand in prison custody of a farmer, Jibrin Adamu, for allegedly kidnapping a 19-year-old girl and demanding N4 million ransom.

    Adamu is standing trial on a three-count charge of alleged criminal conspiracy, robbery and kidnapping.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Hassan Mohammed, could not take the accused’s plea on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    He directed the police to forward the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

    Mohammed adjourned the matter till May 7 for further mention.

    The Prosecutor, Abdullahi Maiyaki, had  told the court that the complainant, Alhaji Kampau, of Gurara, Minna, reported the matter to the police on September 10, 2017.

    He alleged that the accused conspired with four others at large to invade the complainant’s house and kidnap his 19-year-old daughter.

    Maiyaki alleged that the accused later demanded N4 million as ransom.

    He said the offences contravened sections 97 and 298 of the Penal Code.

  • Father arraigned for ‘attempting to kidnap daughter’

    A father, Odesola Odedokun, 38 and two other men were yesterday arraigned at a magistrates’ court in Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly attempting to kidnap his three-year-old daughter, Mary.

    The other suspects are Isaac Ajao, 40 and Kazeem Ibrahim, 42.

    They were alleged to have attempted to abduct the victim for money rituals.

    The charge sheet alleged that charms were found on the accused persons.

    Police prosecutor Mustapha Tajudeen told the court that the accused and others at large, on March 7, about 07:30hrs, at Ifon, allegedly conspired to attempt to kill Mary Odedokun with the intention of using her for money rituals.

    He alleged that the accused thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The defence counsel, R.A. Ugwu, urged the court to grant them bail “in the most liberal term.”

    The Magistrate, F.A. Sodamade, granted the accused bail at N500,000 with one surety.

    He said the surety must be a grade level 15 civil servant and must live within the court jurisdiction and produce evidence of three years’ tax payment.

    Sodamade said the surety must provide three passport-sized photographs, attached with an affidavit of means, adding that the address of the surety must be verified by the police.

    The judge adjourned the case till April 30 for hearing.

  • Dapchi kidnap terrible, says U.S.

    Dapchi kidnap terrible, says U.S.

    •Governor ‘okay with Fed Govt’s response’

    The United States has described the abduction of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls as “horrendous, unacceptable and terrible”.

    Department of State officials stated the U.S. position yesterday during a background briefing ahead of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s first trip to Africa.

    Tillerson is due to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya between today and March 13.

    The officials described Nigeria as critical to the stability of West Africa and the future engagement of the U.S. in the subregion.

    They pledged continued U.S. commitment in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the official said “on Nigeria, this – fight against Boko Haram – is really an important issue.

    “And I know that in the last administrations, even the last three, we have always said going to Nigeria is critical to stability and the future for the U.S. relationship in West Africa.

    “We are following the recent kidnappings of 110 school girls, which really kind of follows up on several years ago of the Chibok girls.

    “And those are horrendous, they’re unacceptable and terrible.

    “But the issue that comes in, it’s not only a security issue – and it is a terrible security challenge – but it’s also political issue and really building those institutions and political dialogue between north and south, and also with the region.

    “And so those are some of the things that we need to look at. It’s a comprehensive approach. The other issue, too, is on economic development and education.”

    The U.S. noted recent UN reports about some of the extremist operations in the G-5 countries and the Trans-Sahel.

    The department, however, regretted that the operations of some of these criminal groups were “about getting jobs” and “about looking at getting an income for families”.

    “And if terrorism or trafficking of persons, if that’s going to get them the jobs, then that’s unacceptable and we really need to find alternative ways to help the economic development in these regions.

    “And so those are some of the issues and challenges that we’ll be working on – political institutions, political dialogue, reconciliation, supporting community-based development, helping growth, education.”

    It said another issue was enhancing the security, particularly in the North, saying  “it just can’t be constantly a kinetic strike operation or bring in U.S. military”.

    “That’s not the answer. The answer has to be developing institutions and also providing good police training, military training, and having governments accountable to the people and having people really have faith in their institutions, and also having opportunities for job creation.

    “And what happens in Nigeria is going to affect the Lake Chad region, and that includes Cameroon as well as the G-5 countries.

    “So those are some of the things that we’re looking at, much more broad-based, comprehensive, and really interrelated with security.”

    The U.S. added that Nigeria’s 2019 general election and a peaceful transition remained its major priority in view of the country’s strategic position in the region.

    The department said over two decades ago, the number of countries in Africa with really democratically elected government was really very few – only three or four.

    It said, however, now we had over two dozen African countries with democratically elected governments and which are hopefully not going to have transitions in government through coup d’etats and other illegal methods.

    “As we look at the 20 elections, obviously Nigeria, though it’s not this year – it’s going to be next year – that really is a major priority focus, because that’s going to be the third most populous country in the world by 2050.

    “It has really very complex political issues and ethnic and tribal issues and security issues,

    “And that’s an area that we really are focusing on how to do a peaceful transition, a democratic transition, but more important is how to hold governments accountable to the people,” the State Department said.

    The department explained that, obviously, a lot of those African countries were still fragile democracies and the U.S. was trying to strengthen them.

    The U.S. commended the most recent elections in Liberia, saying it was the first open, fair, and peaceful transition of governments in over 75 years, saying that is a good thing.

    It regretted what it called the “horrendous rule of Charles Taylor and the degradation of the institutions there, but now we’ll going back and they’re building, and I think with the election of George Weah that’s going to be a positive thing”.

    The U.S. also noted the election of Nana Akufo-Addo in Ghana, Alassane Ouattara in Cote d’Ivoire and Macky Sall in Senegal, describing them as positive developments.

    It said, however, that Ethiopia remained a challenge for the U.S. and a focus for it as well and an opportunity.

    The U.S. explained that it was looking at trying to build institutions, really strengthen institutions, and also have peaceful transitions and hold governments accountable to the people in Ethiopia.

    It said it was also looking at how it could have reconciliation and dialogue among all of the various groups – the Oromos, the Amharas, the Tigrays, and also in Kenya with the opposition and with the ruling government.

    Accordingly, the department said building strong institutions and holding governments accountable are some of the things that are certainly going to be the subjects of discussion during Tillerson trip.

    “How do we advance political and economic reform that will help in the transition process? Those are issues too that we’re working in Zimbabwe with the transition between Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa.

    “And also we’re looking hopefully at South Africa with the election of Cyril Ramaphosa from Jacob Zuma and seeing how that’s going to transition,” the State Department  said.

  • Gunmen kidnap NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kidnap NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen yesterday kidnapped two contractors working on a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) project at Otuogiri in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    Confirming the incident, spokesman Asinim Butswat said in Yenagoa that the police had arrested the accomplice, adding that he was undergoing interrogation.

    Lucky Moses, one of the Community Development Committee (CDC) executives, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen stormed the area in the morning.

    “The gunmen exchanged fire with soldiers before whisking away their targets.

    “The victims were two, but one was released on the spot, the other was whisked into a waiting speed boat, which zoomed off to an unknown destination.

    “The community caught the accomplice, who confessed that he gave information to the abductors. He has been handed over to security operatives,” Moses said.

  • 150 doctors protest kidnap of colleague

    150 doctors protest kidnap of colleague

    Over 150 doctors from private, public, missionary hospitals and tertiary institutions in Cross River State, yesterday, protested in Calabar the kidnap of their colleague, Dr Emem Udoh.

    Udoh, a senior registrar in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was kidnapped on Monday in Calabar.

    The doctors, who wore black, threatened on Tuesday to stop work because six of their colleagues and relations had been kidnapped in the last few months.

    They had, however, celebrated the release of their colleague, Dr Usang Ekanem, on Sunday.

    Ekanem, who works in Cross River College of Education Medical Centre in Akamkpa Local Government Area, was kidnapped on December 26.

    The aggrieved doctors, who protested on major streets in Calabar to the Government House, condemned the government’s approach to abduction of doctors in the state.

    Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Chairman Dr Effiong Mkpanam said all hospitals would remain closed until their colleague is released.

    Mkpanam urged the government to address security challenges in the state.

    “We are not safe and we want people to know that we cannot go to work because we are not safe. We want unconditional release of Dr Emem Udoh who is a nursing mother and until she is released, all the doctors in Cross River State will sit at home.

    “Anybody who wants medical treatment should go to the neighbouring states,” he said.

    The chairman decried insecurity in the state, adding that Cross River is no longer safe for residents and tourists.

    NMA spokesman Dr Ernest Ochang said doctors in the state would sit at home anytime a doctor or a relation was kidnapped.

    “The litmus test for any leader is security and safety of its citizens. But when we are not safe, we dare say that the government has failed the litmus test. The government, however, has the litmus test of redeeming itself by ensuring the release of Dr Emem Udoh. If Udoh is brought back today, we will resume work today. But until then, anyone seeking medical attention in Cross River State should go to neighbouring states,” he said.

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ms Tina Agbor, said government was working to secure release of the abducted doctor.

    Agbor noted that Governor Ben Ayade is unhappy about the security situation.

    “It is unfortunate that soon after one of the doctors was released, another one was abducted, and this time, a woman. I am a woman and right now, the Security Adviser to the Governor is on the streets trying to solve this problem. You did not need to come here to remind us of our duty because we are doing something about it,” she said.