The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnappers

  • Two killed, others injured in police, kidnappers’ gun battle

    Two killed, others injured in police, kidnappers’ gun battle

    Two kidnap suspects were killed yesterday in Anambra State during a gun battle with members of the Anambra State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

    The other suspects escaped with bullet wounds.

    The police also recovered items including one locally made barrel pistol with two live cartridges, one- cut- to- size single barrel gun, one XQ 1000 GSM handset belonging to the victim and one Q-link motorcycle were recovered.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Awka, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkeiruka Nwode, said the 32-year-old victim, Nnamdi Ibru, was rescued.

    She said the suspects had demanded a ransom of N20 millioN from the victim’s family before the police got the information through intelligence report.

    Nwode said the victim was kidnapped on October 11 in a filling station in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area by a gang of four men.

    She further stated the shoot-out ensued when the policemen noticed being trailed by the hoodlums who opened fire on them.

    During the gun duel, two of the suspects were killed while others escaped with bullet wounds, adding the state command was still on their trail.

    According to Nwode: “The police command wishes to advise all parents and guardians to take care of the children and watch their activities and report any suspicious movement concerning their wards.

    “We assure members of the public of our relentless efforts in making sure that lives and properties of Ndi Anambra are secured.”

  • Court remands five kidnappers in custody

    Court remands five kidnappers in custody

    A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Kano yesterday remanded five persons in custody for the alleged kidnap and murder of a 70-year-old man, Usman Danbuba.

    The accused – Wada Mohammed (30); Ya’u Muhammad (22); Musa Inusa (35); Sale Buba (27) and Sule Garba (45) – allegedly kidnapped Danbuba and stoned him to death.

    They are facing a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms.

    Danbuba was kidnapped on May 18, in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State.

    Senior Magistrate Aminu Fagge ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till October 23 for mention.

    The Prosecutor, Inspector Yusuf Sale, told the court that the accused, including Iliyasu Moshede, now at large, attacked the victim with an AK 47 rifle, cutlasses and knives at his home on May 18.

    They kidnapped and robbed Danbuba of N85, 000 and a motorcycle.

    “After kidnapping Danbuba, they took him to their hideout at Shetu Hills in Falgore Forest, and demanded N5 million ransom from his family,” Sale said.

    He added that following the failure of the relatives to provide the money, the defendants stoned Danbuba to death on May 22.

    Under cross examination, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

    According to Sale, the offences contravened Sections 97, 17, 15 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 and the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act Cap 221, of the Penal Code.

     

  • Police rescue 22-year old woman from kidnappers, arrest 17 in Cross River

    THE Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Police has rescued a 22-year old female, Bassey Happiness Okon, from suspected kidnappers in Calabar. Addressing reporters in his office in Calabar, Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said Okon was abducted while returning from her business centre at Marian by Atekong junction by four men in a Toyota Camry vehicle. He said patrol men attached to ‘A’ Division intercepted the Camry along Atimbo Road, and the kidnappers escaped. On searching the car, he said, the victim was found masked, while a locally made pistol was also found inside the vehicle. Inuwa said investigations were ongoing to arrest Okon’s abductors.

    He commended the residents for their cooperation which has contributed to checking crime in the state. The Police Commissioner said policing in a democratic dispensation requires the collaborative efforts of individuals, corporate institutions and the community in general to deal with criminal elements in the society. He urged them to see community policing and crime prevention and control as a joint obligation that must be accomplished for a safer society through the formation of neighborhood watch, vigilante groups and so on.

  • Three policemen killed as gunmen kidnap Ogba Zoo boss

    Three policemen killed as gunmen kidnap Ogba Zoo boss

    Three policemen posted to provide security for fun seekers at the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Oredo local government area of Edo State have been killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    The three policemen were killed at about 6pm while their arms and ammunition were collected by the attackers.

    Director and Chief Executive of the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was abducted by the gunmen.

    It was gathered that the killing disrupted activities at the zoo as many fun seekers scampered for safety.

    Edo State police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the killings and abduction on the phone said the situation has been brought under control.

    DSP Nkombe said the attackers would soon be arrested as security has been beefed up in the area.

    He assured members of the public that the zoo is safe for fun seekers.

  • One dead as Police foil kidnap attempt in Kaduna

    One dead as Police foil kidnap attempt in Kaduna

    Kaduna State Police Command on Tuesday foiled another kidnapping operation barely 48 hours after a Kaduna-based businessman Alhaji Sherif Abida Yazid was killed by kidnappers and his wife abducted along Kaduna-Abuja dual carriage expressway.

    The Police Public Relation Officer ASP Aliyu Mukhtar confirmed that the suspected kidnappers invaded the residence of the former Chairman of the vigilante group in Shika, Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mustapha Ghali with plans to abduct it occupants.

    The Kidnapers according to the spokesman for Kaduna Police command laid siege on the property and later forcefully adopted Alhaji Ghali and two of his daughters.

    However, the Police Special Response Squad stormed the area and engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun duel which resulted in said Alhaji Ghali and two Police Officers sustained varying degrees of injury.

    He further confirmed the death of the father of the abducted girls in a hospital while receiving treatment as a result of bullet injury sustained from crossfire between the Police and the kidnappers.

    When the Kidnapers could not withstand the firing power of the Police, they abandoned the two daughters and flee into the bush, the Police source said.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh has ordered a re-enforcement of Police personnel to the area to comb the forest in order to arrest the fleeing bandits

    “It is very sad that during the cross firing Alhaji Ghali was hit and pronounced dead at ABU Teaching Hospital Shika, where he was rushed to for Medical attention.

    “Some of our policemen also sustained an injury and are also receiving treated at the Shika General Hospital.

    “We are on the trail of the fleeing bandits and we shall bring them to justice very soon”, he said.

    Meanwhile the kidnapped wife of a Kaduna-based businessman, Hajiya Jamila Sheriff Abadeh Yazid has been rescued and currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Kaduna for the psychological trauma she suffered during her captivity.

  • Police kill two kidnappers in Niger

    Niger State Police Command has killed two kidnappers at Rama hills in Kagara town, Rati Local Government, after a four-hour gun duel.

    Police spokesman Babalola Adewole, who confirmed this yesterday in Minna, said other members of the gang escaped with injuries.

    He said the hoodlums abducted Bashir Alhaji Nadarere from his home at Karate village in Rafi Council and demanded N2 million ransom.

    Adewole said the family paid the money after alerting the police, who trailed the kidnappers to their hideout.

    He said the abductors refused to surrender, which resulted in a four-hour gun duel.

    Two of them were killed and N1.2 million, believed to be part of the ransom collected from the victim’s relations, recovered with two AK 47 rifles and 20 rounds of ammunition.

    The spokesman said the police were trailing the injured suspects, urging the public to assist them.

    “The command wishes to inform the public and hospitals to report cases of bullet injuries to the nearest police station.”

  • Police rescue four kidnapped commuters in Ondo

    Police rescue four kidnapped commuters in Ondo

    Four persons reportedly kidnapped last Sunday by some unknown gunmen on Ikare-Owo Expressway have regained their freedom.

    The four persons were kidnapped on Oba/Ose area of Ondo State while travelling in a commercial vehicle to Akure from Ikare, the headquarters of the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    One of the occupants of the vehicle was shot dead, while the others were abducted by the hoodlums.

    Police Spokesman, Femi Joseph, who confirmed the development, said the abducted persons were released following the efforts of the men of the command

    According to him, “On getting the information, our men swung into action and when we closed in on the kidnappers, they had no choice but to release the victims.”

    The PPRO, however, noted that the command had not made any arrest on the incident.

  • Court remands 12 over “Ile-Zik” kidnappers den

    Court remands 12 over “Ile-Zik” kidnappers den

    Twelve suspected kidnappers including a woman, arrested by the police in connection with a kidnappers’ den at Ile-Zik Bus Stop in Ikeja, were remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of a Lagos magistrate.

    They include Hakeem Ogundele, 32; Noah Samuel, 25; Ayomide Olatunji, 44; Felix Matthew, 34; American Obodoyibo, 42; Shola Elemo, 32; and Adijat Mudashiru, 32.

    The rest are Tunde Akanji, 41; Adeoye Adekeye, 38; Patrick Onwubufor, 65, Samuel Iyede, 50; and Bright Amankwa, 36.

    Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias said the accused are to remain behind bars pending legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    The “Ile Zik 12 men” were brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, attempted kidnap and possession of arms and ammunition.

    The bus stop is named after a four-storey building built by the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe.

    Another alleged kidnappers’ hole had been discovered a few days earlier at Ijaiye on the Lagos-Abeokuta Highway.

    Sergeant Kehinde Omisakin, the police prosecutor, told the court Friday that the accused committed the offences on August  10 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at Ile-Zik Bus Stop near Ajayi Farm in Ikeja on the Oshodi-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway.

    According to her, the 12 accused had conspired to kidnap some students of a nearby Girls Junior High School, but they luckily escaped.

    “Some school uniforms and notebooks of the students were found in possession of the accused.”

    Omisakin said one live ammunition, nine empty shells of expended ammunition, one kitchen knife and road maps were recovered from them.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences which contravened Sections 22, 330 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said kidnapping and other related offences carry life imprisonment or capital punishment.

    The case was adjourned to Aug. 22.

  • Four ‘kidnappers’ lynched in Taraba

    Four men have been lynched by youths at Tella in Gassol Local Government of Taraba State.

    Eyewitnesses said the deceased were suspected kidnappers.

    “Before the police arrived, they were beaten to death and set ablaze,” sources said.

    Police spokesman David Misal confirmed the incident.

    He said investigation was on to ascertain identities of the victims and arrest those behind the barbaric act.

    “It is criminal for people to take the law into their hands and kill others because they are suspected to have committed or planned a crime.

    “The best thing was to hand them over to the police,” Misal said.

    He added that one person was arrested.

  • Four suspected kidnappers lynched in Taraba

    Four suspected kidnappers lynched in Taraba

    Four men were Tuesday lynched by irate youths in Tella, Gassol local government area of Taraba state.

    Eye-witnesses said lynched were suspected to be kidnappers.

    The community accused the suspects of involving in spates of kidnapping and recently abducting a highly placed member of the community.

    The suspects Tuesday ran out of luck when the people caught up with them.

    “Before the police could arrive, they were beating death and set ablaze,” our source said.

    The police spokesperson David Misal, an ASP, confirmed the incident.

    He said investigation was ongoing to ascertain the identity of the victims and to bring those behind the barbaric act to book.

    “It is criminal for people to take law into their own hands and execute others because they are suspected to have committed or planned to commit crime.

    “The best thing would have been for the alleged kidnappers to be arrested and handed over to the police to do their work,” he said.

    He added that one person has been arrested and he is helping the police to investigate the incident.

    “I can confirm to you that four persons were lynched yesterday by irate youth for allegedly trying to kidnap a member of their community.

    “As we speak, one person has been arrested and he is helping us investigation to ascertain what really happened,” Misal said.