The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnapped

  • Police rescue South Africans kidnapped in Kaduna

    Police rescue South Africans kidnapped in Kaduna

    The police yesterday rescued two South Africans kidnapped at a mining site in Maidoro Village, Kaduna State last Tuesday.

    The rescued victims have been handed over to the South African High Commission in the presence of their company’s representatives.

    A statement by the Force Public Relations Officers, CSP Jimoh Moshood, explained the rescue operation was carried out with police helicopter.

    “The operation, which lasted several hours in the forest in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State that led to the release of the two (2) South African nationals, was made possible through coordinated efforts led by Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State.

    “The IGP Intelligence Response Team, Police Special Forces, Police Airwing (Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopter) and Police personnel from Kaduna State Command overwhelmed the kidnappers and the two (2) victims were released,” he added.

    He said investigation was ongoing to arrest the fleeing kidnappers.

     

  • Kidnapped nuns freed after 53 days

    Kidnapped nuns freed after 53 days

    Six women, including three nuns of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Convent, who were abducted at Iguoriakhi in Ovia South West, have been freed.

    They were abducted on November 13 by gunmen, who whisked them away on a speed boat.

    The kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom of N20 million.

    But it was not confirmed whether ransom was paid for their release.

    Police sources said one of the victims, identified as Veronica Ajayi, was released about 6pm on Saturday, while five were released before 12 am on Sunday.

    Superior-General of the Catholic convent Sister Agatha Osarekhoe confirmed their release on Sunday.

    Sister Agatha said the sisters returned unhurt and are receiving treatment.

    According to Agatha, “we are happy. To God be the glory. Ajayi was released yesterday (Saturday) and the others were also released.

    “They are fine. They are receiving medical check-up. No ransom was paid. Well, we know that the police did their best because they are aware.

    “They had to do their work, so the police were aware. The most important thing is that our sisters are out.

    “Certainly, they are supposed to be reunited with their families after some period of time. But with this experience, we will just get them settled down and then know what to.

    “Their families have been anxious. So, we will get the sisters to speak with them (families).”

    Commissioner of Police Johnson Kokumo said the sisters were rescued during an operation by policemen.

    Kokumo said the abductors fled on sighting them while the victims were taken to a secure facility for medical attention.

    “Police operatives closed in on the daredevil kidnappers and they had no other option than to release the reverend sisters,” he said.

     

  • Father of oil magnate kidnapped in Benue

    Father of oil magnate kidnapped in Benue

    Gunmen have again  kidnapped Atser Kyausu, the octogenarian father of Makurdi-based businessman.

    Kyausu had once been kidnapped from his Vandeikya Local Government home in 2016.

    The late Special Adviser to the governor, Mr. Denen Igbana, had led security men and rescued him in Kwande council.

    The gang leader was killed while three gang members were arrested, tried and remanded in Makurdi prison.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu said the gunmen stormed Kyausu’s house in a red Toyota.

    “On December 28, they bundled him into the vehicle and drove away; his whereabouts have remained unknown since then,” Yamu said.

    As at last night, the gunmen were yet to contact the family or ask for ransom.

    The victim’s son, known by his business name Kyabiz, appealed to the kidnappers to release his father as he was sick.

    Yamu, however, said a manhunt for the culprits is on.

     

  • Gunmen kill one, kidnap three in Niger village

    Gunmen kill one, kidnap three in Niger village

    One person have been killed and three others kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Zazzaga Community in Munya local government area of Niger state.

    The recent attack is coming barely 72 hours after the Community paid N10 million cash to secure the release of five out of the ten members of the community who were in custody of the kidnappers.

    The rate of attacks and kidnapping in Zazzaga community has made a lot of the villagers to start relocating from the area.

    It was in the process of relocating that the kidnappers struck in the early hours of Tuesday at as they attacked those who were fleeing the village.

    The deceased, a 54 year old Musa Adamu was shot dead when he attempted to rescue the wives of his son who were among those kidnapped.

    A 60 year old Amina Mohammed was however released midway into the journey by the kidnappers who gave her their telephone numbers to give to the families of those kidnapped for possible negotiations.

    The incident was confirmed by the District Head of Zazzaga, Musa Umoru who lamented the attacks on the village and other villages by the armed men.

    “These villages are among the few villages that the people are yet to move out, people have relocated from every other village in this community in the last one month.

    “As I speak now, people are moving their properties away to neighboring villages because the government has refused to come to our aids.

    Umoru lamented that the villagers are at the mercy of these armed men because there is no adequate security provided for them, “the entire Zazzaga community with about 50 villages and a population of over 1000 inhabitants has only one police out-post with only two policemen and without a gun. They do not have any weapon to confront the kidnappers”, he said.

  • Plateau PDP chair, five others kidnapped

    Plateau PDP chair, five others kidnapped

    •Abductors demand N100m ranson

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State Damishi Sango, and five others were kidnapped Wednesday evening on the Abuja-Jos Road.

    The victims were travelling to Abuja for the party’s national convention.

    It was learnt that gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, trailed and overtook them in an isolated area, near Kafanchan, Kaduna State, and forced their car to stop.

    All occupants, including the driver, were captured, blindfolded and marched into the bush.

    The abductors were said to have contacted their relatives and demanded a N100 million ransom.

    A statement by the state Publicity Secretary, John Akans, said: “We receive with shock, the kidnap of our chairman. Information available to us shows he was travelling in his private vehicle with his son, another party chieftain, Emmanuel Magnin, driver and orderly.

    “We have reported to the police and they have begun preliminary investigations. We have also reported the incident to our national secretariat.

    “We sympathise with the families of our chairman, Chief Magnin, the driver and orderly and we trust security agents to handle the situation well.”

  • Enugu APC chieftain kidnapped, battered

    Enugu APC chieftain kidnapped, battered

    The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the police to arrest and prosecute the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vitus Okechi, and the Vice Chairman-elect of Igboeze South Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Ajogwu, for allegedly kidnapping its 2015 governorship candidate, Okey Ezea.

    The party accused the duo of allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and masterminding the kidnapping, torture and attempted murder of Ezea during the recent local government election in the state.

    The state APC Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, told reporters that Ezea was beaten to a pulp and kidnapped.

    The chairman said the police rescued him and took him to a hospital during the November 4 local government election in the state.

    He said Ezea only asked for the result sheet of the election and calling for a free and fair poll.

    Nwoye said despite Ezea’s statement at the divisional police headquarters in Igboeze South Local Government Area, the police had not arrested and prosecuted the hoodlums that attacked the former governorship candidate.

    But Okechi denied culpability in tha attack.

    The commissioner said Ezea was attacked by suspected thugs he brought to the election venue over possible disagreement on financial settlement.

    Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said Ezea should rest assured that the culprits would be brought to justice, if he had lodged a complaint with the police.

    He said: “Chief Ezea ought to have gone to the divisional police headquarters where he reported the matter to find out the status of the matter before going to press.

    “He can also see the Commissioner of Police to know the status of the matter.”

    Nwoye said the attackers must face justice, adding that Ezea was a three-time governorship candidate in the state and a leading voice of the opposition.

    He said: “We called on you (reporters) to talk about what happened to our leader, our governorship candidate in 2015 election, in the last local government fraudulent election.

    “Before everything else, before we became APC members, before we even became Nigerians, we are first human beings. So, when certain things happen, we treat them from human perspective.

    “Recall that I informed you in a hurry on that particular day, November 4, those of you who had the opportunity to come around here, that Chief Ezea was attacked, kidnapped, forcefully incarcerated and tortured. I also said he remained in the den of kidnappers for some time before he was rescued by the police.

    “Unfortunately, Chief Ezea knew his attackers; at least, those who masterminded his attack. He fingered Okechi and Ajogwu.”

     

  • Foreign missionaries kidnapped in Delta

    Four missionaries, of Caucasian race, have been kidnapped by suspected militants, near Enukorowa Creek community in Burutu Local Government of Delta State.

    The Nation learnt that the missionaries – Dr. David Donavan, Chilly Donavan, Alana and Iyan – worked in the area for more than three years, preaching and administering free drugs to people.

    Although there was no link with the suspected kidnappers last night, sources linked the abduction to a notorious militant gang, Karowei.

    A statement by spokesman Andrew Aniamaka said the kidnap was suspected to be a reaction to the Operation Crocodile’s Smile by the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Delta Safe (OPDS).

    “On October 13, about 0200hrs, five armed suspected members of Karowei militant group stormed Enukorowa creek community in Burutu Council of Delta State and kidnapped four white missionaries, namely Dr. David Donavan, Chilly Donavan, Alana (surname unknown) and Iyan (surname unknown), who have been engaged in preaching and giving free medical treatment in the last three years.

    “Intelligence shows the kidnap may not be unconnected with the present onslaught on militant activities embarked on by the military codenamed Operation Crocodile Smile. 

    “Efforts are being made in conjunction with the Joint Task Force (JTF) to ensure that the victims are rescued. A manhunt for the kidnappers has been intensified,” the statement said.

  • Kogi poly student kidnapped

    •Abductors demand N10m ransom

    A student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Miss Adetutu Adebanjo, has been kidnapped.

    Adebanjo, a Higher National Diploma 2 (HND 2) student in the Department of Office Technology Management, was abducted last Friday on Itakpe-Lokoja-Okene road, when she was travelling to her town in Ogun State.

    The victim, according to a source, had just finished her first semester examination, and was returning home.

    A week ago, three chieftains of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Kogi State chapter, were kidnapped on Idah road.

    The Director of Students’ Affairs, National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Salihu Lukman, said in a statement that the abductors demanded N10million ransom, which they later reduced to N500,000.

    He said: “Negotiation is on. Today makes it the fourth day now. The poor mother of Adetutu, a widow, can’t afford the ransom.

    “We implore the government and the public to assist in securing her release.”

    Lukman said the police command had been informed, adding that Commissioner Ali Janga promised that the victim would be released soon.

     

  • Kogi Poly student kidnapped, N10m ransom demanded

    Kogi Poly student kidnapped, N10m ransom demanded

    A student of the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Miss Adetutu Adebanjo has been kidnapped.

    Adebanjo, a Higher National Diploma II (HND) student in the Department of Office Technology Management, was kidnapped last Friday, along the Itakpe-Lokoja-Okene road while on her way to her hometown in Ogun State.

    The victim according to a source has just finished her first semester examination, and was returning home.

    Her kidnap is coming barely a week after that of three chieftains of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Kogi State chapter, who were abducted along the Idah road in the state.

    The Director of Students’ Affairs, National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Salihu Lukman, in a statement Sunday night, said the kidnappers had earlier demanded N10m for her release, which they later reduced to N500,000.

    He stated: “Negotiations is still on-going. Today makes it the 4th day now, and the poor mother of Adetutu who happens to be a widow can’t afford the ransom.

    “We are pleading with the government and the general public to come to the aid of this poor child so that we can secure her release”.

    He added that the state police command has been informed, adding that the Commissioner of Police (VP), Ali Janga gave assurance to secure her release within the shortest possible time.

  • NYSC confirms release of kidnapped female corps member

    NYSC confirms release of kidnapped female corps member

    National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nasarawa State chapter, has confirmed the release of a kidnapped Batch A Stream 1 female youth corps member.

    The Coordinator, Hajiya Zainab Isah, confirmed the release of the corps member to reporters in Lafia yesterday.

    She said the corps member from Abia State, who was kidnapped last Friday at Udege Mbeki community in Kokona Local Government, was released on Sunday.

    “She was kidnapped on Friday on her way from bank in company of other corps members.

    “They were robbed and after that she was abducted and taken away. She was the only female among them,” Isah said.

    She said NYSC, in collaboration with the government, security agencies and the traditional ruler of Osu Ojiri, Alhaji Halilu Bala-Usman, swung into action to effect her release.

    “Governor Tanko Al-Makura played a vital role in securing the release of the corps member through the monarch, whom he communicated with, because the incident occurred in his domain.

    “The governor directed the police commissioner to ensure the corps member was unhurt and untouched.

    “I thank the governor for his fatherly role in securing the freedom of the corps member.

    “I also thank the Osu Ojiri of Undege Mbeki, security agencies and the vigilance group. I just want to thank everybody for the roles they played.

    “I’m grateful to NYSC Director-General Brig.- Gen. Sule Kazaure. He also played an important role. He gave me moral support,” the coordinator said.

    She refuted an allegation that the corps member was defiled by her kidnappers,

    Isah said medical investigations carried out at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi proved otherwise.

    “The corps member was never raped. I have visited the hospital with her and have the result proving she is medically okay.

    “I want to dispel the rumour that she was raped. Most importantly, the corps member has said she was not raped.

    “Yes, she was beaten up, but was never raped because at the time she was kidnapped, she was bleeding.

    “When they saw that she was menstruating, they didn’t want her again and started beating her up. I can authoritatively tell you she was rescued unhurt,” she said.

    The coordinator said the corps member would be taken to the Government House to see the governor before any further step would be taken.

    Police spokesman Idrisu Kennedy confirmed the rescue of the corps member.

    He said efforts were on to arrest the kidnappers and prosecute them.