The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnapped

  • Edo APC chieftain ‘kidnapped’

    ONE of the leaders of the newly-registered All Progressives Congress in Edo North, Mr. Athanasius Ogbome, may have fallen victim to those suspected to have kidnapped rights activist, Mike Ozekhome.

    The suspected kidnappers of Ozekhome and his driver were said to have ambushed a police patrol team despatched on a rescue mission and opened fire on them, killing four policemen.

    Unconfirmed report said Ogbone’s white Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), was in front of the one conveying Ozekhome. It was further learnt that the hoodlums took away their victims in Ogbome’s vehicle. Ozekhome’s SUV was seen on the scene of the incident by policemen, who discovered the identity of the kidnapped lawyer.

    The APC chief, who with others, inaugurated the party in Ekperi, Etsako Central Local Government Area, last Saturday, was said to be returning from a funeral in Fugar.

    His elder brother and former House of Assembly member, Pascal, was unable to confirm his brother’s whereabouts. He, however, said the family was praying for his safe return.

    Briefing reporters, Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo said: “Operatives of the command led by DPO Ehor division responded to a distress call about 3:30pm that unspecified number of armed men had blocked theBenin-Auchi Road on the Ehor axis. The hoodlums ambushed the patrol vehicle and opened fire on it, prompting an exchange of fire.

    “At the end of the gun duel, the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds but not without their victim, who was later identified, upon a search on his abandoned vehicle, as Chief Ozekhome and his driver.

  • Kidnapped council boss escapes

    The Vice-Chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Walter Aiwekhor, who was abducted by unknown gunmen, has escaped.

    He was abducted on Ogan Road near Abudu on his way to Ehor, headquarters of the local government.

    The abduction of Aiwekhor occurred 48 hours after two teachers and three children were abducted by gunmen.

    It was learnt that he escaped through the bush and surfaced at Ubiaruku village in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Foluso Adebanjo confirmed the incident.

     

  • Kidnapped teachers released

    After 14 days in captivity, three kidnapped primary school teachers were released yesterday.

    They were snatched by gunmen at Orhogbua Primary School at Ekenwan village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Sources said they were released at about 3am close to Gelegele village.

    Patience Osadoplor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene were said to have been handed over to their families.

    They were abducted on July 30 and a ransom of N60million was placed on them; this was later reduced to N7.5 million.

    It could not be ascertained if any ransom was paid for their release.

    A husband of one of the victims, who confirmed the release, declined comments.

  • Why I kidnapped my cousin, by suspect

    For being unable to obtain money from his uncle, Prince Mark, 27, thought the only way he could get back at him was to kidnap his seven-year-old son, Wilfred, and demand a N5 million ransom.

    But, Mark met his waterloo as he was seized by the police the following day at his hideout, following a tip-off by some neighbours.

    Mark was living with his uncle, Williams, in Igoli in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Speaking with reporters at the State Police Headquarters in Calabar at the weekend, where he was paraded with a suspected accomplice, Ogbor Julius, 22, Mark confessed that on June 10 he colluded with Julius to abduct Wilfred from school.

    “That day I needed money from my uncle to buy some things, but he did not give me so I decided to kidnap his son and ask for N5 million,” adding: “I went to the boy’s school and told him that his father wanted to see him. I took him into the bush. Then I called my uncle to bring the money, otherwise we will kill the boy.

    “He agreed to pay. But before we knew what was going on, we were surrounded by policemen and arrested. I feel really bad about it now.”

    Julius said he agreed to be part of the ploy because of the money. He said the incident was “the work of the devil.”

    Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo said his men raided the kidnappers’ hideout following information made available to them by the public.

    “The boy was rescued and has joined his family. Two of the kidnappers were arrested. We thank members of the public for their cooperation and ask them to always be vigilant,” Sodipo said.

  • Briton’s wife kidnapped in Port Harcourt

    Gunmen have kidnapped Mrs. Grace Dickson, wife of the owner of Bongaville Hotel in the new Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The kidnap of the Briton’s wife took place around 11 pm on Sunday, when she drove to the gate of their yet-to-be-ascertained residence in Port Harcourt. No demand for ransom had been made as at last night.

    Sources said amid sporadic gunshots, the hoodlums removed Mrs. Dickson’s eye glasses and moved her away in the car she drove to the gate, as the gateman was opening the gate for her to drive in.

    It was also learnt that the gateman initially opened the gate, but when the woman was no longer driving in, she ignorantly closed the gate.

    Shortly after the kidnap, the victim’s husband drove to the gate and the gateman opened the gate for him, parked normally and the gateman closed the gate, without informing him of the ugly development.

    Yesterday morning, it was gathered that the gateman told his boss: “Oga, last (Sunday) night, they carry madam go. They don carry madam go. Me I no know where they carry am go.”

    The shocked husband, according to sources, immediately contacted the nearby Sani Abacha Police Station, GRA.

    The Rivers Police Anti-Kidnap Unit went on the trail of the kidnappers to rescue the victim.

    Rivers Police spokesperson, Angela Agabe, confirmed the kidnap, but said details were sketchy.

  • Police: no American kidnapped in Abia

    Police: no American kidnapped in Abia

    The police in Abia State have refuted reports that an American woman was kidnapped and had died in the hands of her abductors at Onicha Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government.

    Commissioner of Police Usman Abubakar said she is a Nigerian.

    He said there was no truth in the media report about the kidnapped lady’s nationality.

    “The lady is an indigene of the state, who lives with her mother; a teacher in England. She is not an American.

    “She visited Onicha Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government for Easter with her boyfriend, where she was abducted by the hoodlums.”

    The police chief said the kidnappers were demanding N20million from her mother.

    He said the police had intensified their hunt for the hoodlums and rescue efforts were on to secure the release of their victim.

    “Her body has not been seen. The body is not a paper that can easily fly and be seen. Besides, she is not dead.

    “What I can assure you is that efforts have been intensified to track down the hoodlums and to rescue the lady.”

  • Emeka, New Era boss, kidnapped

    THERE was tension yesterday in Anambra State, following reports that one of the leading contractors in the state, Benneth Emeka, has been abducted by suspected kidnappers.

    The owner of New Era Construction firm, based in Aba, Abia State and Port Hacourt, Rivers State, was kidnapped at Nsugbe in Anambra East Local Government Area yesterday.

    The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Ben Worju, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident to The Nation.

    Though, according to him, no contact had been made between the suspects and the family, he said more men of the command had been deployed to the dark spots in the area.

    According to him, “there is no cause for alarm, this command is battle ready and we are going to make sure that the man comes out immediately.”

    Emeka, The Nation was told, was abducted by a four-man gang along Nwafor Orizu College of Education in the afternoon when he went to inspect the road under construction by his firm.

    On lookers who spoke with The Nation yesterday said that the contractor drove himself to the site without any driver or policeman when the suspects, driving an L-300 bus, swooped on him

    Before his kidnap, the victim had been involved in solving the erosion problems in his Umueri community.

    He was said to have built about 350 metre length road in his community which was ravaged by erosion for a long time in the state and had equally been involved in awarding scholarships to students and helping the needy.

     

  • Foreigner kidnapped in Lagos, says US consulate

    THROUGH its Consulate in Lagos, the United States (U.S.) yesterday claimed that a foreigner has been kidnapped in the country’s business capital.

    A source simply identified as “a US consulate spokeswoman” by Sunday Nation, a Kenyan newspaper, gave only few details of the alleged abduction.

    She was also silent on the nationality of the victim, who was allegedly kidnapped on Victoria Island, at about 11pm on Saturday.

    It was the first time an expatriate would be kidnapped in Lagos.

    “The US Consulate General in Lagos received a report that an expatriate was kidnapped on Victoria Island on Saturday, March 23 at approximately 11pm,” the consulate said in a message to US citizens, referring to an upscale area of Lagos.

    “Local Nigerian law enforcement confirmed this incident.” the newspaper reported.

    The Police Command in Lagos could not confirm the repot last night.

    Mr Frank Mba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), also said he had not received reports of the abduction.

  • Kidnapped Onitsha High Chief released

    n Onitsha High Chief, Albert Ibekwe, who was kidnapped on Thursday has regained freedom from his abductors.

    Chief Albert Ibekwe, who was kidnapped on his way from Awka at 3-3 in Nkwelle community, was dropped by his abductors at the Nkwelle junction, few metres away from the place he was kidnapped.

    Chief Ibekwe (Omodi Daike) told journalists on the phone that he was released early in the hours of yesterday, adding that he was hale and hearty but could not disclose if any ransom was paid for his release.

    He also confirmed that he was in good health, while he commended security agencies for their role in his release.

    The Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, confirmed the release of the victim and said the police would continue to hunt for the kidnappers in and around the state.

  • Police chase kidnapped driver’s family from Assembly

    The police yesterday teargassed the family of a driver, Victor Igbinovia, at the two entrances of the Edo State House of Assembly.

    The family besieged the Assembly complex for the third day to protest the kidnap of Igbinovia on February 3 with his lawmaker-boss, Victor Edoror.

    Igbinovia and the lawmaker were abducted at Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area.

    The lawmaker was released two weeks later but the driver’s whereabout is not yet known.

    Members of the family blocked the Assembly complex and prevented workers from entering, until the police teargassed them.

    Some of the members prayed in front of the complex.

    Igbinovia’s wife and three-year-old daughter were present at the protest.

    Edoror, in an interview, denied using his driver for rituals.

    He said the last he saw of him was when the kidnappers took him (the driver) in another vehicle.

    The lawmaker said he heard two gunshots and the kidnappers told him they had shot Igbinovia.

    Edoror said he was yet to thank God for his release because Igbinovia has not been released.

    The kidnappers are yet to contact the lawmaker or Igbinovia’s family.