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Tag: kidnappers

  • JUSUN executives, others kidnapped in Rivers

    JUSUN executives, others kidnapped in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have diverted a passenger bus with its seven occupants along Isiokpor area of Ikwerre Local Government area of Rivers state.

    The occupants reportedly include two executive officers of the state Chapter of Judiciary  Staff Union of Nigeria, (JUSUN).

    They are the Vice Chairman of the Union, Ibim Opusungi and the Secretary, Carol Tams.

    Chairman of the state chapter of the JUSUN, George Isokari, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

    The state police command confirmed the incident.

    Isokari said the Union officers were returning from Abuja, Sunday evening, when their vehicle was diverted at Isiokpor.

    He expressed sadness on the incident and appealed on the kidnappers to release their colleagues unconditionally and unhurt.

    The Police Public Relation officer in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Police is doing everything to ensure the victims are released as soon as possible.

    Omoni said adequate measures including increase on Police patrol team even as search party  have been deployed to the area to ensure they are rescued unhurt.

  • Ex PDP ministers call for action against kidnappers, killer herdsmen

    •Pray for Buhari’s speedy recovery

    Cabinet ministers that served under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on the federal government to take decisive actions against the activities of kidnappers and killer herdsmen in the country.

    The ex ministers, who met in Abuja on Monday bemoaned the deteriorating security situation in the country, particularly the activities of armed robbers, kidnappers and killer Fulani herdsmen.

    They prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly recover from his ailment to enable him return to the county to carry out his duties.

    The ex ministers however said they were not unmindful of Buhari’s call for the impeachment of the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua in 2010 when Yar ‘Adua was away in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.

    A former Special Duties Minister, Taminu Turaki who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said, rather than calling for his impeachment, the PDP would continued to pray for his recovery.

    Turaki said, “People behave differently in different situations. We are not unaware of the point President Muhammadu Buhari made when Yar ‘Adua was sick.

    “For us at the Former Ministers Forum, we wish him speedy recovery. We want him to come back and continue the job for which he persistently fought to be elected and for which he was elected.

    “We want him to come and continue because we want to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election and not anybody else”

    The group also blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government for the deteriorating security situation and the polarisation in the polity along ethnic, tribal and religious lines.

    Turaki continued, “The forum however observes with great concern the deteriorating security situation in this country particularly the increasing spate of kidnapping, armed robbery and the unchecked menace of herdsmen that regularly kill, rape and vandalise farmlands across the communities.

    “The forum also notes that as a result of the inept leadership of the APC led federal government, Nigerians have never been so polarised along regional, tribal, ethnic religiuos and other divides and we feel that this is really most unfortunate.

    “The PDP made the supreme sacrifice to make Nigeria one and ensured that our indivisibility as a people and as a country was not compromised.

    “That was why our presidential candidate in the 2015 election conceded defeat to president Muhammad Buhari, which singular act, contrary to the expectation of pessimists, ensured that Nigeria remained one country”

    The Forum queried the incessant raids on the Kaduna residence of the immediate past Vice President, Namadi Sambo, by security agents.

     

    “The Forum once again wish to condemn in very clear terms the  persecution and decimation of the opposition and the unwarranted invasion of the residence of the immediate past Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the continued harassment and detention of key members of the opposition”, the ex ministers added.

     

    They charged the APC led federal government to be alive to its  responsibility to the Nigerian people.

     

    The ex minister restated their loyalty to the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee of the PDP and urged the critical organs of the party to continue to support the committee.

     

    “We have said that we are working in tandem with other organs and tiers of the party. The party has taken a decision that whatever happens, we will remain committed to the ideals and vision of the PDP.

     

    “We believe very stongly that tbe judgement of the Supreme Court, which is comming sometime next week, will unite the party more than dividing us.

     

    “We have resolved to remain committed to the ideals, visions and mission of the PDP and we are determined to join other organs of the party in revitalising the party into a virile and more constructive opposition”.

     

    END

  • Imo police raid suspected kidnappers, robbers

    Imo police raid suspected kidnappers, robbers

    The battle to bring criminals to heel in Imo State is yielding fruit. No fewer than 36 kidnap and armed robbery suspects have been arrested, the state police command said.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who paraded the suspects at the police headquarters, assured that the offensive against criminal elements in the state will be sustained until heinous criminal activities are curtailed.

    He said that apart from tracking down kidnap and armed robbery syndicates, the Command will also initiate massive onslaught against cult groups who have taken delight in harassing and maiming innocent residents of the state.

    Describing cultism as the “root” of other criminal activities, Ezike said that cultists will be traced to their classrooms, hostels and homes, where they will be apprehended to face the law, even after escaping from the scene of their crime.

    He said, “I am delighted this morning as we showcase our modest achievements in crime management in Imo State since my last parade of suspects in April. Permit me to mention however, that we have also in between the period made public some arrests and recoveries which we thought were very urgent importance.

    “As we approach the second half of 2017, the Command expects increased business activities and human relationships in Imo State. These activities come with its good, bad and ugly baggage. We must therefore continuously be on the red alert so that the less than 7% criminal elements in our midst do not cause us avoidable pains”.

    He continued, saying, “Consequently in the coming weeks and months, our Tactical Operational focus shall be to sustain the momentum in the current operation of identification, arrest, detention and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and other notorious criminals.

    “To commence the urgent vetting and profiling of communities, organizations, hotels that have shown uncommon notoriety in the provision of safe haven and passages for armed robbers/kidnappers with a view to holding their leadership and owners accountable for their acts or omissions .

    “To sustain high visibility policing as a crime prevention measure and employ forensic technology as a fundamental aid to criminal investigation and detection and to expand the frontiers of police and community partnership through strategic communication and relationship that will continue to stimulate our whistleblowing policy”.

    The Commissioner of Police, attributed the success recorded within the time under review to “the workability of our whistle blowing policy which has encouraged the residents of Imo state to expose criminality and other vices that torment our society, renewed partnership with all segments of the Imo community and good inter-agency cooperation and collaboration, as well as the commitment and renewed zeal of the personnel of Imo state Police Command, using intelligence-led policing platforms and high visibility policing models to achieve efficiency and effectiveness”.

    Some of the criminal syndicate that were busted include a notorious four-man kidnap gang led by a 34-year-old father of seven, which has been terrorizing residents of the state, especially around Avu community in Owerri West Council Area of the State.

    Other members of the gang that was said to be behind the abduction of a female magistrate that was later rescued by the Police recently, were Chima Agujo (20), Tochukwu Chima 27 and Desmond Akano (25).

    Also paraded were members of child trafficking syndicate that specializes in abducting and drugging pregnant women who are kept till they deliver and their babies sold by the gang.

    Names of the members of the gang were given as Chinedu Onyeakosi, Chinaza Onyeakosi and Chidi Donatus, all male.

    The Police also paraded students of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) who were arrested for alleged armed robbery and cultism.

    Items recovered from the paraded suspects, include stolen vehicles, AK47 Riffles, locally made pistols, pump action guns, axe, machetes and other dangerous weapons.

  • Pupils’ abduction threat: Police dare kidnappers

    Pupils’ abduction threat: Police dare kidnappers

    The Lagos State Police Command yesterday described as empty threats, a letter purportedly written by kidnappers to Model College Kankon, Badagry, notifying the school of an invasion.

    Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni said nothing was being left to chance, appealing to residents to remain calm.

    Owoseni told The Nation yesterday that security has been beefed up in all schools, daring the criminals to strike.

    He said: “I don’t think this is something to make a story of. We do not want people to panic. Schools in Lagos have adequate security presence. We are on top of the situation.

    “Those are empty threats from misguided people. They cannot succeed. We would definitely arrest those who kidnapped the Igbonla students and bring them to justice. Like I said, we are in control. We cannot allow a group of miscreants hold the state to ransom or force our children out of school.”

    In the letter allegedly sent to the junior and senior schools, the kidnappers threatened to pick six pupils and two principals.

  • Court’s inability to get translator stalls planned arraignment of kidnappers

    Court’s inability to get translator stalls planned arraignment of kidnappers

    The inability of the Federal High Court in Abuja to get a translator stalled the scheduled arraignment of some men alleged to be involved in the recent abduction of some pupils in schools in Lagos and Ogun states.

    The five men were accused of kidnapping some pupils and staff of Nigeria/Tulip International College in Isheri, Ogun State on January 13, 2017, and another six victims along the Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos, on December 16, 2016.

    They are Bekewei Agbojule (aka Asari), Egbasimokumo Ayeomi (aka Effiong), Godspower Olopele, Toki Okuba and Super Allen Baye (aka Yanga).

    Agbojule, Ayeomi and Baye  are said to be from the Ijaw community of Arogbo town in the riverine area of Ondo State, while the other two – Olopele and Okuba – are said to be residents of Ikorodu in Lagos and Isheri in Ogun State.

    The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), on June 1, 2017 filed a five-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/85/2017 against the five alleged abductors after taking over the case from the police.

    The charge was signed on behalf of the AGF by an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Aminu Alilu.

    When defendants  were brought to court yesterday by the police, Alilu (who is leading the prosecution team) and lawyers to the defence were in court.

    Proceedings were however stall shortly after the defendants were called into the dock and some of them said they do not understand English well, but pidgin English.

    After some minutes of trying to get a translator, without success, Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn proceedings to today (Wednesday) to allow for the production of a translator.

    In the charge, the office of the AGF described the acts of hostage taking and receiving of ransoms, which the defendants were accused of, as acts of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

    The defendants are, in the first three counts of the charge, are accused of conspiring among themselves and with others at large  and demanded for N800m ransom after they “seized” and “detained” the pupils and staff members of Nigeria/Tulip International College, Isheri, Ogun State.

    They were said to have demanded N800m as ransom, but  later reduced it to N50m which they allegedly received before releasing the victims.

    The seven pupils and staff members of Nigeria/Tulip International College, Isheri, Ogun State, allegedly abducted by the defendants were Stephanie Nwosu, Zainab Olatubosun, Rebecca Agodi, Radiyan Aminu, Rashidat Ibrahim, Hanat Aderinto and Deriyo Yaziel.

    In counts four and five, the defendants, along with others (now at large) are said to have, on December 16, 2016, at Asolo Bridge, Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos, seized at gun point one Joshua Olayinka, Rita Morah, Kendra Abiose and four others.

    The defendants were said to have after seizing the six victims in Ikorodu, gone ahead to detain them at Ibafo Creek, Ogun State.

    They allegedly demanded a N2m ransom from the family members of the victims and received the money before releasing their victims

    The office of the AGF alleged that the offence of conspiracy to commit hostage taking was an act of terrorism contrary to section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    The office said the offences of seizing, hostage taking and demanding ransome were also acts of terrorism said to be contrary to 15 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

     

  • We’ll hunt down kidnappers, says AIG

    •’Abducted pupils’ll regain freedom soon’

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II comprising of Lagos and Ogun States Police Commands, Mr Adamu Ibrahim yesterday said that the police would build on the success of the arrest of the notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike otherwise known as Evans, and hunt down his colleagues and other criminal elements still hibernating in the states.

    Ibrahim who spoke to journalists shortly after a private meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Lagos House in Ikeja, also assured the public especially parents of the kidnapped pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe that all hands are on deck to ensure the safe return of their wards.

    He said security agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the return of the pupils and reunite them with their families.

    He said: “In fact very soon, you will hear good news on the issue. We are working seriously on it. At this stage, I will not want to disclose too much because these are security issues but all I want to say is that people should give us a chance and very soon, they will hear good news.”

    He vowed that the police in Lagos and Ogun Commands were battle ready and has been alerted to make the zone hot for criminal elements to carry out their nefarious activities.

    According to him; “Security measures are not discussed publicly but what I will tell you is that we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that Lagos is free of crime and criminals. We will rid all these criminals out of this zone.

    “So, I will like to send a word to criminals to leave Zone II otherwise we will not relent until the zone is completely rid of all these criminals.

    “You are aware Evans has already been arrested and he is the most wanted criminal who is into kidnapping. Others too, if they don’t leave this zone, they will also be arrested.”

    The police boss also commended the Lagos State Government for improving the security architecture in the State.

    He said: “People are aware of what the Lagos State Government is doing on security and no other state is doing it. So, all efforts are on to ensure that there is peace in the state. Lagos is doing perfectly well in assisting security agencies to do their work and we must commend their efforts.”

  • Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    An anti-kidnap unit launched in Imo will make abductors in the state and the Southeast uncomfortable, reports OKODILI NDIDI 

    The Southeast was once a kidnappers’ paradise, recording between 25 and 30 high-profile kidnap cases every month. Those were the days of the invincible Vampire, who, along with his recruits, abducted, killed, and extracted ransom with ease from victims and their families. It amazed residents in the zone and beyond how the kidnap kingpin outwitted security personnel. It was more astonishing that even when he was apprehended and chained the Vampire still managed to escape. Those were days of terror in the Southeast, with clear consequences. Socio-economic activities went down. Investors fled.

    Some of the state governors in the zone, particularly Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, deployed huge amounts of money and other resources to combat the scourge. But the more the authorities fought kidnappers, including demolishing their properties, the more daring they became. Even after the police managed to overwhelm Vampire for the last time, his surviving victims still walk with fear.

    Not to worry, the dark days are over. The Southeast will soon be too hot for kidnap gangs and other criminals, thanks to the new Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) launched in Imo by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. The state government is also playing a big role in the new approach by providing up-to-date equipment to support the drive.

    Before, the police had relied on obsolete equipment and limited manpower to battle deadly and better equipped kidnap gangs.

    Aside from Lagos and Abuja, Imo is the only state where the new anti-kidnap unit has been commissioned. According to the IGP, the unit will provide intelligence for fighting kidnapping in the whole of the Southeast zone. That is not all; the police have also permanently deployed one of their surveillance and reconnaissance helicopters to the Imo State command to aid the fight against kidnapping in the zone.

    This is apart from the commissioning of a new Squadron of the Police Mobile Force to add to the existing Squadron in the state to shore up police manpower, as well as the Special Protection Unit (SPU), which is also newly built by the state government in Ideato South Council Area of the State.

    The Imo Governor, in additional efforts to compliment the Police, also donated brand new vehicles outside of the 100 Hilux vans he gave out to security agencies in the state during the early days of his administration to beef up security in the State.

    With these and other covert measures that have been put in place, the heat has surely been turned on the kidnap syndicates and one message is clear, they either relocate from the zone or meet their waterloo.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the Tactical Intelligence Unit, the Inspector General of Police observed that it will provide the needed intelligence to flush out kidnappers and other criminal elements from the zone.

    Assuring that the menace of kidnapping will be soon be a thing of the past following the commissioning the Intelligence Unit, the IGP, noted that “the new Unit will give the Police the capacity to nip kidnapping in the bud”.

    According to him, “it is one of the Units we are using to tackle kidnapping because it is an intelligence outfit that has given us capacity to pre-empt some of these kidnappings. When we came in we had only one of such Unit based in Abuja but we now have one in Lagos, one in Imo and one in Port Harcourt because we need to expand our capacity”.

    The IGP however emphasized the need of community participation in tackling kidnapping, asserting that, “the issue of kidnapping can be addressed on a two-prong action, which is Police action and the community participation. I think as community leaders, as parents, we need to discourage our youths who are taking kidnapping as a way of making easy money. We should put our heads together to ensure that our youths take their minds off this crime”.

    He however lamented that the Police is presently underfunded.

    In his words, “one of the challenges the Police is facing is funding, during the last security summit in Abuja, we all agreed that the Police is underfunded. The police needs more fund. We also recognized that under in a normal budgetary allocation we cannot get involved that is why we are trying to revive the Police Trust Fund Bill. We have been in touch with the leadership of the National Assembly to see how this Bill can be brought up and made operational. Because we believe that if the Nigeria Police Force must be very effective and stand on its feet the funding of the Police must be adequately addressed by all of us”.

    Also speaking shortly before handing over the keys to the brand new vehicles to the police boss at the Government House, Governor Okorocha, noted that his administration has done a lot to assist the Police in fighting kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state.

    He described Imo as the most peaceful state in the country, stating that within the past six years, his administration was able to prove that crime can be curbed with development, stressing that “there are lesser crimes where there is development than where there is underdevelopment”.

    His words, “I had always proposed ideas on how to help the Nigeria Police. The first time that the Nigeria Police got 1000 SUVs was from me, Rochas, as a businessman and not as a politician. We often speak evil of the Nigeria police and we have not been able to appreciate what the Nigeria police stands for under the very painful situation they work, in the discharge of their duties. If there is one man that appreciates the Nigeria Police it is me. I first donated a college of administration, a brand new 200 bed hospital, mobile squadron unit, workshops.

    “The right place to site Zonal Office is Owerri because of its strategic position. Federal government alone cannot provide the needs of the Police so I want to set the pace so that other states can follow.”

     

  • Igbonla kidnap: Four pupils fall sick as kidnappers insist on N100m

    Igbonla kidnap: Four pupils fall sick as kidnappers insist on N100m

    •Inaccessible terrain stalls victims’ rescue

    Four of the six kidnapped pupils of Lagos State Model College in Igbonla, Epe have fallen ill, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The kidnappers were said to have informed the pupil’s parents of the indisposed children.

    They are insisting on N100m ransom before releasing the children.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers have been talking with the parents since they resumed communication last Friday.

    They were said to have told the parents to hasten payment of the ransom.

    Lamenting that they have been in a fix since May 25, a parent said no government official had talked to them.

    He said: “We are in trouble. These kidnappers have been calling since and they have told us that four of the children were ill. They said we should hurry up and get the money. That government should pay the money.

    “The government has made it clear it won’t negotiate with kidnappers nor pay ransom. We have told them this already. We have also told them we are fishermen and retirees. Where do they expect us to raise N100million?

    “How do we get that amount of money? We have been meeting daily on the way forward but no matter what we try to put together and tell them, they insist on N100million.”

    Also yesterday, a police source said the pupils have been relocated to an inaccessible part of the creeks. Their relocation, the source said, has hindered plans to free them.

    According to the source, the students would have been rescued over the weekend and the kidnappers apprehended but for the fact that gunboats cannot penetrate the area.

    He said swam buggies and flat boats were needed to penetrate where the pupils were moved to.

    The source said: “After we arrested three of them last week, the kidnappers moved the students farther into the creeks, where our boats from the Marine Police cannot penetrate.

    “For that terrain, which has thick bushes and foliages, we need swarm buggies and flat boats. As it is now, we are frustrated at every turn. Although we know the general area where the kidnappers are, we can’t storm in.

    “Also, we have the safety of the students to think about. They have been relocated and we know the area, we don’t have the platform to penetrate that place because we are handicapped in that regard.”

  • Kidnappers move Lagos pupils to Niger Delta creek

    Kidnappers move Lagos pupils to Niger Delta creek

    •Parent left waiting with ‘N2m ransom at Odogunyan’

    There were fears yesterday that the six abducted Lagos State Model College pupils might have again been moved by their kidnappers.

    It was the second time, sources told The Nation that the pupils would be relocated since they were kidnapped in May 25.

    It was learnt that they might have been moved to a creek in Niger Delta, following their parents alleged failure to pay the N2million ransom demanded on each child.

    But the kidnappers were said to have failed to show up yesterday to collect a N2million ransom allegedly taken to a designated spot in Odogunyan, Ikorodu.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers had since Friday asked the parent to take the money to different spots, but each time he went, no one came to collect it.

    They were also said to have told the parent to wear the same dress he wore the first time they asked him to bring the money, so that their emissary could identify him.

    Despite complying with instructions, the parent, it was gathered, was kept waiting for over four hours, after which he was asked to return home, once again.

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers initially accused the parent of not keeping the appointment but when he described some of the things he saw at the locations, they told him to go home that they would get back to him.

    It was learnt that the parent demanded to speak to his child but he was not obliged.

    The pupils were first moved last weekend, two days after their abduction.

    But, three members of the gang who went to survey the waterways before the relocation were arrested in Benin, the Edo State capital, by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives last Tuesday.

    Policemen comprising those from the Lagos State Command, Marine Unit and the IRT, who stormed the first camp where the pupils were kept, engaged some kidnappers there in a gun duel.

  • Igbonla: Kidnappers reduce ransom to N100 million

    Igbonla: Kidnappers reduce ransom to N100 million

    Kidnappers of six students Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe yesterday resumed negotiations with affected parents, demanding N100million.

    The kidnappers, it was gathered contacted two of the parents twice on Friday, insisting that they should approach the government for the amount demanded.

    Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi were whisked away from their hostels- Yellow and Green houses- on May 25, by gunmen clad in police uniform.

    The kidnappers, who established contact with the parents on May 27, initially demanded N400million as ransom, asking the parents to approach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the money.

    When the government wasn’t forthcoming, the kidnappers adopted selective negotiations with parents, demanding varying sum.

    But since Monday, May 28, none of the parents have heard from the kidnappers save for yesterday’s resumed communication.

    The parents, who said they had tried calling the number the kidnappers initially contacted them with to no avail, expressed worries at the state of the pupils.

    However, the kidnappers contacted two of the parents twice yesterday, insisting that they were only interested in negotiating with the government.

    A parent said: “We need help. We are begging the government to intervene in this matter. They contacted some parents this evening (Friday) and said they want us to tell the government to bring N100million. They said they were not interested in us because they know we cannot raise the money that it is the government they are interested in.

    “Please, help us. We need help on this issue. We do not know what to do anymore. We have begged them to take the ransom down but they refused. How do we raise N100 million since the government has said it would not pay ransom? We are helpless.”