The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnapped

  • How our students, staff were abducted – Turkish school Principal

    The Principal of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges(NTIC), Isheri, Ogun State, on Saturday gave an account of how eight students and staff of the school were abducted at gunpoint by people suspected to be kidnappers.

    The Principal, Yunus Emre Dogan, said the gunmen arrived the school premises on Friday night armed and began to shoot sporadically, adding that there was panic everywhere.

    Yunus said that the abductors swiftly dashed into the female hostel where three students were kidnapped alongside the house mistress and a Turkish teacher that teaches mathematics in the school.

    According to him, the abductors dug a big hole through a side of the College’s perimeter fence from where they escaped through the bushy and swampy part of the area.

    The Principal offered the explanation of the incident when the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Princess Yetunde Onanuga, visited the school on Saturday in company of other members of the state Executive Council for on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
    The Nation gathered that among those abducted are three regular students and two others who were preparing for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board exams, and three members of staff while a cook was also taken away from the kitchen.

    Addressing the agonizing parents at the school, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, assured that the government was committed to the safe return of the students, saying state government had put security measure in place in that direction.

    The Deputy Governor appealed to parents and guardians of the pupils to remain calm and not engage in panic withdrawal of their children from the school.

    “We are here to express our concern and symphaty. It is unfortunate that, this is happening barely few days on school resumption. Wheen we heard about it, we quickly sprang into action, hence the urgent visit.

    “Our government has put necessary security measure in place for the rescue of the abductees. Ogun State is already in action. Let me reassure you that we are going to rescue the victims soon.

    “No doubt, it does happen once a while but it’s unfortunate, the state is aware and we are doing the work, we will do all that is possible for the safe return of the children. The FG is aware and they habe also assured us that very very soon, they would be rescued.

    “It’s not the time to start taking children out of the schools, the security operatives are all on ground to ensure safety of life and property of the school. We will do all that is possible to make sure the school is safe and the school authority is also doing what is possible to ensure that the state is safe,” she said

    Mr Ahmad Ajani, whose daughter – Hanatullah Aderinto Ajani(22), was one of the abducted pupils, said he got the information on Friday night that his girl has been kidnapped.

    Ajani who described the incident as sad and unfortunate said his child was in the school to prepare for the forthcoming JAMB exams.

    “Somebody called in the midnight that something happened here and my daughter was involved, I had to come down this morning and the Police Commissioner addressed us assuring that they would work on it and that everything would be alright very soon.

    “I am very sad but prayerful that the they are rescued on time, as I am standing, I am traumatised, you can imagine a girl of 22 preparing for University and somebody took her away, it is a big issue.”

    But Funmi Tijani has blamed the management of the school for the security lapses that led to the abduction.

    Mrs Tijani said the College did not put in place enough security measures including security, to forestall the incident.

    She said, “We parents jointly resolved and agreed that we have to take away our children at least for the first one week, until we are convinced about perfect security arrangement in place.

    “The road is not tarred, no security light, bushes all around, last year, the school was closed down for two weeks because of flood. What we are saying is that ‘let there be adequate security.

    “We are taking our Children away, we’ve agreed amongst ourselves to take our children away for a week, my daughter saw them, witnessed the whole scenerio and she’s traumatised, psychologically, they are not balanced, you don’t expect me to leave her behind.”

  • Police rescue kidnapped journalist

    Police rescue kidnapped journalist

    A journalist with a private radio station in Ilesa, Osun State, Unique FM, Dele Ajayi, who was kidnapped by gunmen on Monday, has been rescued by the police in Ondo State.
    Ajayi was found in Ondo, Ondo West Local Government Area, several hours after he had been declared missing.
    It was learnt that Ajayi, an indigene of Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State was seized in Ijebujesa, Oriade Local Government , and taken to Ondo.
    A source said Ajayi was forced to drink a liquid substance when he was abducted after which he slept off and later found himself in Ondo.
    It was learnt that his official car was found in Ijebujesa.
    Although the victim could not be reached for comments, it was gathered that he reported at Fagun Police Division in Ondo from where he moved to Ilesa.
    He is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Osun State.

  • Another monarch kidnapped in Delta

    Unknown gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped the Ovie (traditional ruler) of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, HRM Orhifi Orovwagbarha Agbarha-Ide Ememoh II, along Ughelli-Asaba Road.

    The Nation gathered that the monarch was on his way to Asaba for a security summit when he encountered his abductors around Ossissa community in Ndokwa-East council area of the state.

    His abductors have reportedly  reached his people, demanding a N50 million ransom for his release.

    Also confirming the development, the spokesman of Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said the abduction was sad, assuring that the command had started an investigation into it.

    “Police is doing everything humanly possible to unravel the mystery surrounding it. Even the high command here is on the red alert, everything is being done to… This is unacceptable,” he said.

  • Kidnapped Anglican Priest’s wife regains freedom

    The wife of the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Venerable Ayodeji Fagbemi, Florence was on Thursday released by her abductors.
    It was gathered that the victim regained her freedom after her family was able to pay a ransom.
    It was not clear if her family paid the exact amount demanded by the kidnappers.
    Her abductors, who invaded their residence at Oba-Ile Estate in Akure North Local government, on Monday night are demanded N20million ransom for her release.
    The 48 year-old woman, was said to have been released at Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole local government area of Osun State.
    It was however gathered that the kidnappers did not release the victim’s Toyota Jeep in which she was taken away with.
    Her husband, who was the immediate past Provost of the Provost of the Bishop Vining College of Theology in Akure had earlier said the family could not afford the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
    The source said, “Mrs. Fagbemi has been released in Ikire. I know a ransom was paid but I can’t tell you the amount that was paid as ransom. The family members had gone to bring her down to Akure.
    “Though the woman has been released but the Toyota Jeep that was taken away with her has not been released. The kidnappers told the family that they would release it at a police station. But up till now (Thursday), the jeep is still with them. “
    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the development but said he was yet to get the details of the matter as at the press time.

     

  • Police Inspector kidnapped

    Gunmen suspected to be militants have kidnapped a police Inspector identified as Sunday in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos.

    It was gathered that a rescue mission for the Inspector kidnapped about two weeks ago, has commenced with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) combing possible hideouts of the gunmen.

    The Inspector, attached to SARS, was said to have been kidnapped while attempting to rescue a resident from suspected land grabbers.

    The land grabbers were said to have stormed a community in the area, brandishing guns and other weapons to dislodge their rivals.

    Unconfirmed reports stated that the hoodlums killed three residents before kidnapping the man, whom the police went to rescue.

    Unfortunately, it was gathered that the gunmen shot a policeman and then kidnapped Sunday.

    An AK47 rifle was allegedly found at the scene during a visit by the police team.

    A source who requested anonymity said: “The gunmen kidnapped a man. They shot at the others and killed three persons.  Police learnt of the attack and chased the hoodlums. One policeman was shot while they kidnapped an Inspector identified as Sunday.”

    But police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) denied a policeman was kidnapped, insisting that it was untrue.

  • 10 kidnapped persons rescued in Abuja

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said 10 persons kidnapped in Kuje Area Council of Abuja had been rescued by security agents.

    Bello said this at a news conference on the successful rescue mission in Abuja on Monday.

    He said the rescue team consisted of 250 personnel of ‎Army, Police, Command Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Department of State Security Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    “They routed the kidnappers and destroyed their camps.’’

    He said the notorious gang of hoodlums specialised in robbing and kidnapping innocent residents in that area.

    The minister said that the seven males and three females rescued had been handed over to the Gomo of Kuje for immediate rehabilitation.

    He, however, said that an officer of the NSCDC, ASC1 Anumudu Uchewho, took ill during the operation and died.

    “Uchewho death will not be in vain as he lost his life in the line of duty to save the lives of ten other residents of the territory.

    “All the bandits’ structures have been dismantled and security agencies have strengthened surveillance mechanism as not to allow such miscreants operate within the 8,000 square kilometres of the FCT’, he said.

    Commissioner of Police in Abuja, Mohammed Mustapha assured all residents in the affected villages that the p0lice had commenced massive deployment to forestall any future occurrence.

    Mustapha assured that the security agents were making concerted efforts to arrest the dislodged hoodlums; adding that nothing would be left unturned to get them to face the consequences of their criminal actions.

    It will be recalled that Darka village in Kuje Area Council was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 13 leaving a 28-year old man, Zakariyya Nuhu dead, one injured and six kidnapped.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that neighboring Huni-Gade was also attacked on Nov. 17 where four persons were kidnapped.

     

  • Former Minister Bagudu Hirse kidnapped in Kaduna

    Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, was yesterday afternoon kidnapped in Kaduna city.

    Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed his kidnap, said the command has launched a manhunt for the abductors.

    The Nation gathered that Hirse was snatched in front of Alhaji Mamman Daura’s residence on Inuwa Wada road.

    According to sources, the former minister was on a condolence visit to the family of the late 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, a street next to Inuwa Wada road, and he decided to pay homepage to Mamman Daura.

    “From what I could hear, they told him to get into their car but he was trying to seek further explanations from them and as soon as people started approaching the scene, one of them fired into the air.

    “That was when they forced him into the car but removed his ‘babariga’ and cap, threw it on the floor and drove away,” he stated.

    A local security man told reporters that when the kidnappers shot, people ran away and so could not make out what they told the former minister.

    “After the gunmen drove away, Daura was informed about the incident and more security agents were deployed in the house before he departed for Abuja.”

    Meanwhile, no demand was said to have been made last night but Usman promised that the kidnappers will be nabbed.

  • Kidnapped Methodist priest regains freedom

    A priest of the Methodist Church Nigeria, who was kidnapped on his farm at Kufi on Olounda-Aba Road, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, last Thursday, has been freed.

    Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Cathedral, Ibadan, Rev. Amos Ajiboye, said Rev. Biodun Ogunbekun was released on Tuesday but he did not give any further details.

    The Bishop said: “Our priest was released to us on Tuesday. We are grateful to God and all those who made it possible. We shall be making further statement in due time. He is resting after what he had gone through in the hands of his abductors.”

    It was not known if a ransom was paid to secure release of the priest, who is attached to the Akobo-Ojurin parish in Ibadan.

    However, a source who pleaded for anonymity, said the kidnappers demanded N10 million.

    On the day he was kidnapped, Ogunbekun was in the farm with two of his workers.

    The source said as he was leaving, a gunman forced his way in. Four other gunmen appeared and whisked away the priest into the surrounding bush on foot.

    “We were told the kidnappers did not come with any vehicle or motorcycle. They tried to take the man of God away in his truck but they could not for some reason. They whisked him away on foot,” he said.

  • Methodist Church reverend kidnapped in Ibadan

    Methodist Church reverend kidnapped in Ibadan

    A reverend of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Biodun Ogunbekun, has been kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Ogunbekun is serving at Akobo-Ojurin area of Ibadan under the Diocese of Agodi.

    He was kidnapped by five gunmen who traced him to his farm at Kufi area along Olounda-Aba road, Ibadan.

    In a statement by the Diocesan Bishop of the cathedral, Rt. Rev. Amos Ajiboye, Friday, the clergyman was said to have been kidnapped around 7pm on Thursday while preparing to leave the farm.

    The statement read in part: “The whereabouts of the minister of God is still unknown. On behalf of the Prelate of the church, His Eminence, Dr. K. Uche, and the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. M.K. Stephen, I appeal to the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the state Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to please assist in finding the whereabouts of the minister of God and help release him unhurt.”

    While narrating the account of the kidnap, Ajiboye said Ogunbekun was in the farm with two of his staff. He explained that when he was to leave the farm, a gunman forced his way in as the gate was opened. Four other gunmen also appeared and whisked away Ogunbekun into the surrounding bush on foot.

    “We were told that the kidnappers did not come with any vehicle or motorcycle. They tried to take the man of God away in his truck but they could not for some reason. They then decided to whisk him away on foot. We have alerted the police and they had visited the farm.” The statement added.

    Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command arrested two members of the Methodist Church Cathedral in Ibadan on Sunday for planning to rob the church with intent to steal N1.5 million.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, said a worker in the church, Ogundijo Abiola, 43, and the church drummer, Alabi Olukunle, 25, were involved in the planned robbery. But Bishop Ajiboye said there was no link yet between the two crimes.

     

     

  • Pastor, four others kidnapped in Ekiti

    Pastor, four others kidnapped in Ekiti

    •Police: we’ve rescued two victims

    There was panic in Ekiti State yesterday when suspected kidnappers abducted five persons including a pastor along a major road in Ise Ekiti, headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area.

    The latest incident occurred barely two days after the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Dr. Muslim Omoleke was kidnapped in Iwaraja community in neighbouring Osun State along with his driver and child.

    Omoleke, who was abducted on Thursday, was released later on Friday.

    The driver and the child had earlier been released same day they were seized but the INEC chief spent another 24 hours in the den of kidnappers.

    Sources informed yesterday that the pastor whose name was given as Ojo, his driver, Jimoh and three other persons inside the same vehicle were seized at a location on the outskirts of Ise.

    Family sources said the whereabouts of the victims remained unknown at the time of filing this report.

    Their abductors had not established contact with the family to demand any ransom.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident in a telephone chat.

    He stated that two of the victims had been recovered while three others are still in the kidnappers’ den.

    Adeyemi said the police are still on the trail of the hoodlums to ensure that they are rescued alive and returned to their families.

    He called on residents to always volunteer information to the police to assist in fishing out criminals and ensure safety of the law-abiding citizens.

    Adeyemi said the men of the state command are closing in on perpetrators of an attack on Ido Ekiti Police station on October 14 during which an inspector on duty was murdered in cold blood.

    The gunmen, numbering about 40, had attacked the police station at about 7.30pm with explosive devices and headed straight to the armoury where arms and ammunition were reported to have been carted away.

    Adeyemi said investigations have reached advanced stage with enough clues as to the whereabouts of the criminal gang already gathered.

    He said: “This is a very unfortunate incident. But we are pleased with the level of investigations that have been conducted by our officers.

    “We are getting enough clues and I can reliably inform you that we are closing in on them.

    “I want to say that very soon these criminals will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”