The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnappers

  • Police kill five suspected kidnappers

    The police in Ikom Division, Cross River, yesterday, shot dead five suspected kidnappers in Ikom Local Government.

    They rescued a businesswoman, simply identified as Mrs. Asimco.

    It was learnt that gunmen abducted the woman on Ogoja Road in Ikom, but the police pursued them into a forest.

    When the police caught up with them, there was a gun battle, in which five suspects were killed.

    Police spokesperson Irene Ugbo confirmed the incident. She said the bodies had been taken to Calabar, adding that the suspects were transported to Calabar.

  • Police kill five suspected kidnappers, rescue woman

    Police kill five suspected kidnappers, rescue woman

    Men of the Ikom Division of the Nigeria Police Wednesday shot dead five suspected kidnappers in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    They also rescued a businesswoman, known as Mrs Asimco, in the process.

    The Nation gathered that a group of gunmen had abducted the lady along Ogoja Road in Ikom and made away in a vehicle, but the police immediately gave chase into a forest in the area, following distress calls from members of the public.

    When the police caught up with them, there was a gun battle, where five of the kidnappers were killed.

    Police Public Relations Officer in the State, ASP, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident saying the corpses were being transported to Calabar, the State capital.

    She said they also had other suspects, who were also being transported to Calabar.

    “To members of the public, I would say the police is your friend. You should always give us information at the right time, so that we can do our job. We are always there for them 24 hours every day,” she said.

    Read Also: Police trail ‘one-chance’ tricycle, taxi cab operators in Enugu

  • Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    A Benin based lawyer identified as Barr. G.C Igbokwe has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    Barr. Igbokwe who is the Chairman, Benin Law Week Organising Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association was abducted on Monday evening near Okhuaihe village along Benin-Aghoro-Onitsha express road.

    He was said on his way to Enugu when he was abducted.

    Edo police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the kidnapping, described it as a very sad incident.

    Nkombe said the police was already on the kidnappers trail and assured that the abducted lawyer would soon be rescued.

    Read Also: Kidnappers release monarch’s wife after collecting N2.5m

  • Police arrest 3,000 kidnappers nationwide – IGP

    Police arrest 3,000 kidnappers nationwide – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Friday said the police had so far apprehended about 3,000 suspected kidnappers nationwide.

    The IGP made this known when he briefed State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that already a task force had been inaugurated to scrutinise and streamline the suspects with a view to ensuring their speedy trial.

    “We are taking them to court on everyday basis.

    “Presently we have almost over 3000 suspects in the various police stations all over the country and we are taking them to court.

    “Recently, I set up a task force to sort of streamline or scrutinize these cases so that we have speedy trial of some of these suspects,’’ he said.

    The police boss said he had deployed special police unit to patrol the Abuja-Kaduna- Kano highway with a view to checking the menace of armed robbers and kidnappers along the road.

    He appreciated the efforts of the National Assembly for proposing death penalty for those found guilty of kidnapping in the country.

    The IGP expressed the hope that the nation would soon witness drastic fall in cases of kidnapping in view of the proposed death penalty.(NAN)

  • Kidnappers yet to release Osayomore 

    Kidnappers yet to release Osayomore 

    Edo ace musician and social critic, Mr. Osayomore Joseph, who was abducted on October 4th is yet to be released by his abductors.

    Osayomore was abducted by suspected gunmen at about 10pm at Orovie village off Upper Ekewan road in Egor local government area.

    His youngest wife who was driving the car was shot and is still receiving treatment at a private hospital.

    The kidnappers were said to have made an initial demand of   N200million as ransom but later reduced it to N50million.

    A family source said the kidnappers even asked them to sell one of their houses.

    Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Moses Nkombe said the police was doing its best to ensure release of Osayomore.

    Nkombe stared that constant change of location has been part of the challenges faced by men of the anti-kidnapping team to ensure safe and timely release of Osayomore Joseph.

    Some security personnel who pleaded anonymity blamed the state government lack of support for increase of crime in the state

    They said there has not been any logistic support such as vehicles and communication equipment from the state government to boost their operations in the state.

  • Army arrests three suspected kidnappers, 27 cultists in Edo, Delta

    Army arrests three suspected kidnappers, 27 cultists in Edo, Delta

    The 4 Brigade Nigerian Army said its troop of 19 Battalion has arrested three suspected kidnappers and 27 suspected cultists in Edo and Delta states.

    It said its adoption of the use of swamp buggies has enabled it destroyed illegal bunkering camps within its area of responsibility.

    A statement issued by its spokesman, Captain Mohammed Maidawa said the suspected kidnappers whose names were given as Emomotimi Thomas aged 30, Mebi Blas’s a.k.a Producer and Smart Yebu were arrested at MT Palace Hotel off Airport Road, Warri while holding a secret meeting.

    The statement said the suspected cultists including four females were nabbed at a hill top joint in Benin City where they gathered before carrying out nefarious activities.

    Captain Maidawa stated that the use of swamp buggies led to the destruction of several metallic tanks, drums as well as the covering of several dug out pits all containing illegal bunkering substances.

    Maidawa said a total of 103 dug out pits used as storage facilities for illegally refined products were destroyed and covered in various illegal oil bunkering camps within its Area of Responsibility.

    He stated that on two speed boats hidden by militants in the general area of Ajakurama in Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State were uncovered while another militant’s hideout in Ugbolukangnn Community in Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State was destroyed.

    The Army spokesman said troops of 4 Brigade Operation Crocodile Smile II on routine anti bunkering patrol discovered and destroyed five dug out pits and five metallic storage tanks loaded with about 110,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and about 20,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK)w at an illegal refining site at Lapase, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    According to statement, “Troops intercepted and destroyed a Cotonou boat loaded with quantity 100 X 30 litres jerry cans containing Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) near the camp.

    “The troops also destroyed another illegal refining camp in Aziza with dug out pits and metal storage tanks loaded with more than 60,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 35,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) All the products were destroyed before troops returned to their location.”

  • Police parades 15 for armed robbery, kidnapping 

    The Police have arrested 15 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers who operate along Abuja-Kaduna, and Kaduna highway.

    The suspects who belong to two separate gangs specialize in terrorizing travelers and motorists on the highway.

    The police also said the suspects have devised tactics for their operations as they now come from the northwestern states to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting members of the public.

    Members of the first gang according to the police were responsible for the murder of Barrister Sherrif Yazid who was killed on the 18th of September.

    The gang members also kidnapped the Wife of the Late Barrister and released her after a ransom was paid.

    The suspects who operate in military uniform include: Adamu Tukur, Ahmadu Bala, Bello Suleiman, Hamza Suleiman, Suleiman Abubakar, Nuhu Ahmadu.

    Members of the second gang are; Aliyu Suleiman, Nauru Abubakar, Muazu Lawal, Haliru Garbage,  Bello Yusuf, Rufai Haruna, Abubakar Haruna, Mohammed Yahaya, Rashidu Hussaini.

    The second gang according to the police operate with a black 18 seater Toyota Hummer bus with Jigawa registration number; XA830BKD

    The suspects pretend like commercial transporters, kidnap people and collect ransom before releasing their victim.

    Items recovered from them include Ak47 rifle, pump action gun, Toyota Hummer bus, pairs of military uniforms and cutlasses, motorcycles and others.

    Addressing Journalists in Rijana, Kaduna State on their operation, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said: “Consequent on the strengthening of Operation Absolute Sanity with additional personnel and Modern Crime Detection and Fighting Equipment by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris  on Abuja  KadunaHighway with effect from 14th of September, 2017 to proactively tackle and deal with the new emerging gangs of Kidnappers on Abuja – Kaduna Highway who from actionable intelligence gathered usually move in from other States in the North East such as Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi to Kaduna – Abuja Highway and kidnap innocent travellers and after collection of ransoms move back to those States

    “On 21/10/2017, after a sustained surveillance and manhunt of kidnappers terrorising the Abuja – Kaduna Highway who were responsible for the killing of a renowned Lawyer and kidnap of his wife after collection of ransom.

    “The Special Intelligence Response Team led by this operation with other Police detachments of Operation Absolute Sanity deployed on Abuja/Kaduna Highway.

    “Six  vicious and notorious suspected kidnappers were trailed and arrested in their hideouts and camps located around toll gates, Kakau, Sabon gayan and Rijana axis on Abuja – Kaduna Highway where they were hiding.

    “All the suspects mentioned in this case were identified by the wife of the slay lawyer, Barr. Sheriff Yazid, she was also kidnapped by the same gang and freed after collection of ransom.”

    The police noted that investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large adding that they All would be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation.

  • Zoo boss kidnappers got N61m ransom, four suspects arrested

    Zoo boss kidnappers got N61m ransom, four suspects arrested

    Kidnappers of the Managing Director of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Dr. Andy Ehanire collected N61m as ransom before he was released.

    Dr. Ehanire, a brother to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, was held for three weeks in the kidnappers.

    Three policemen were killed by the kidnappers during Dr Ehanire’s abduction.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers collected N25m and another $100,000 before Dr. Ehanire was released.

    However, four of the suspected kidnappers  have been arrested.

    They were arrested in Sapele and other communities in Delta State.

    The sum of N800,000 was said to have been recovered from the wife of one of the suspects.

    Narrating how Dr. Ehanire was abducted, one of the suspected kidnappers whose recording at the police station has gone viral said they earlier attempted to carry out the abduction twice but were prevented by the presence of policemen.

    The suspect said it was during the third attempt they shot the three policemen and took their target away through the water ways.

    He said they attempted to burn the vehicle they used but there was no matches to ignite a fire.

    Confirming the arrest, Edo Police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, said efforts were on to arrest other fleeing suspects.

     

    More details later….

  • Octogenarian kidnappers demand N25million ransom

    Kidnappers of an octogenarian, Chief James Omafuaire, have demanded a N25 million ransom for his release.

    Chief Omafuaire, who is the elder brother of Vanguard Newspaper’s Senior Photojournalist, Akpokona Omafuaire, was kidnapped on Monday, along with his wife, Victoria, and a customer, from his Ikpeshi Quarter in Akoko-Edo council area of Edo state.

    The kidnappers placed a call through to the son of their victim, Charles Omafuaire, late Monday evening, demanding a ransom of N25 million.

    Daughter of the victim, Mrs Christie Omafuaire-Atie appealed to the police authority to swing into action to rescue her father while appealing to the kidnappers to lower the demand.

    Omafuaire, 80, was supervising his workers at his quarry site in Ikpeshi near Auchi when the gunmen abducted him, his wife and a customer.

    Chief Omafuaire, is a retired Superintendent of Police and former Divisional Police Officer, Igarra.

  • Kidnappers of Delta Octogenarian demand N25 Million Ransom

    Kidnappers of Delta Octogenarian demand N25 Million Ransom

     

     

    Kidnappers of an octogenarian, Chief James Omafuaire, have demanded a N25 million ransom for his release.

    Chief Omafuaire, who is the elder brother of Vanguard Newspaper’s Senior Photojournalist, Akpokona Omafuaire, was kidnapped on Monday, along with his wife, Victoria, and a customer, from his Ikpeshi Quarter in Akoko-Edo council area of Edo state.

    However, the kidnappers, who are believed to be Fulani herdsmen, placed a call through to the son of their victim; Charles Omafuaire, late Monday evening, demanding a ransom of N25 million.

    Confirming the development to the Nation on phone in Warri yesterday, daughter of the victim, Mrs Christie Omafuaire-Atie, said the kidnap of the octogenarian was already causing panic within the family.

    She appeal to the police authority to swing into action to rescue her father while appealing to the herdsmen to lower the demand.

    Omafuaire was supervising his workers at his quarry site in Ikpeshi near Auchi when the Fulani herdsmen with guns kidnapped him, his wife and a customer.

    Chief Omafuaire, an Olomu Chief hails from Akperhe-Olomu in Ughelli-South Area of Delta State, he is a retired Supritendent of Police and former Divisional Police Officer, Igarra. He is over 80 years old.