Four suspected members of a kidnapping gang that whisked away a medical doctor last week at St. François Hospital in Onikan, Lagos, have been killed.
They were gunned down inside the Ibeju-Lekki forest on Friday during an operation carried out by the police to rescue the man identified as Dr. Ajayi.
It was gathered that security forces stormed the forest Friday night and battled the kidnappers, killing four of them in the process.
The police, it was learnt, recovered a gun, the vehicle that was used to kidnap the doctor, as well as many clothes suspected to belong to other victims.
According to the Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Dr. Ajayi was successfully rescued around 9:10pm and has been reunited with his family.
She confirmed that the kidnappers kept him inside the thick forest, adding that the deceased died during a gun duel.
“The command would do everything within its means to rid Lagos of criminal elements,” said Badmos.
Tag: kidnappers
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Four suspected kidnappers die as police rescue doctor
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Kidnappers of Anglican priest’s wife demand N20m ransom
The wife of the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Venerable Ayodeji Fagbemi, Ebunoluwa has been kidnapped at the residence at Oba-Ile estate in Akure North local government area of Ondo stateShe was abducted on Monday night by some armed bandit.According to the husband of the victim, the kidnappers are demanding N20million ransom for her release.Fagbemi, who was also the immediate past Provost of the Bishop Vining College of Theology in Akure, while speaking with “The Nation” pleaded that the family does not have the huge money demanded by the kidnapper.The Anglican Priest said ” Everybody is traumatised and we are all praying for her safe return to us .“Again there is a very outrageous expectation, the abductors demanded for N20million which I don’t think anybody can afford.“But at the movement we are really praying.”The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said the armed hoodlums gained entrance into the Fagbemi’s house through the window after which they took the woman away with her Toyota Jeep to an unknown destination.Joseph said the command had commenced investigation on the matter, adding that searching for the the Venerable’s wife had also begun.He said,” Our men are already began the search for the women, but you know we can’t disclosed the method we are using to the media now but we shall surely ensure that the victim would be released unhurt”The Bishop of Akure Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Very Rev. Simeon Borikini described the incident as unfortunate.He said there was a need for the government at all levels to do more on the security of the country.The Anglican cleric said the church had been praying for the safe return of Fagbemi, adding that the church had also contacted all the security agencies in the state to assist in ensuring the release of the woman. -
Ahmed advocates stiffer penalty for kidnappers
Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday called for stiffer sanctions for kidnappers as a deterrent to others.
He also spoke about the importance of reform in the judicial system to ensure confidence in the system and to facilitate expeditious dispensation of justice.
The governor spoke during the 2016 Kwara State Justice Sector Reform Awareness and Training programme at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Ilorin.
He said: “Nigeria requires reforms in almost all sectors in order to achieve the transformation that we all seek for current and future generations of Nigerians.
“Notwithstanding its significant contributions to the country’s development and sustenance of democratic governance, the justice sector is in no less need of reform which increases confidence in the system by ensuring that the judiciary sustains its reputation as the citizen’s last refuge.”
The governor added that “given the fact that a peaceful and lawful society is germane to development, an effective judicial system is also critical given its capacity to ensure the orderliness and peace necessary for economic growth and advancement.”
He urged security agencies to redouble efforts to prevent and detect kidnapping and abduction in the state.
The governor commended the Technical Committee of Justice Sector Reform Team for planning the “Revised layman’s Law of Kwara State” saying it is a simplified compilation of the Law of the State in simple, easy to understand language.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Kamaldeen Ajibade, said the Justice Sector Reform Team is an initiative to quicken dispensation of justice and bring justice to the door steps of residents in the state. -
‘Our kidnappers got N4m’
Former President of the HEKAN Church Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau yesterday relived his kidnap experience.
He said N4 million ransom was paid to his abductors after nine days in their den.
Dziggau, however, said the ransom was not paid by the government but it was gathered the ransom may have been paid by his church.
Dr. Dziggau was addressing reporters yesterday after his retirement thanksgiving at the HEKAN church in Kaduna.
His words: “The nine days was like hell for us; no basic daily needs, we slept on leaves, no drinking water. I only took my bath twice in the nine days.
“The kidnappers initially demanded N150 million ransom for the three of us but we eventually paid N4 million before we were released and from same money, we were each given 4,000 as fare.
“I was forcefully pushed to start walking barefooted, they removed our shirts and gave us tiny Fulani shirts to wear. The one I was given was so small that it hardly reach my waist and we kept walking in the bush without an idea of where we were heading to.
“We kept trekking throughout the night crossing gutters and swamps, we were only allowed to rest briefly at intervals.
“There were about 15 heavily-armed men, with three guarding each peson. They threatened to kill us if the ransom was not paid. At a time, a fair-skinned Fulani guy came to us and said to me: “Baba, I had to stay behind so that these boys will not kill you, they are trigger happy chaps”.
“He looked sober and asked us to forgive him, he said they are doing this kidnapping not because they like it, but that circumstances forced them. He blamed the present administration for their woes, saying they have been stealing their cows and left with nothing to do and so they resort to kidnapping.”
Rev Dziggau was kidnapped on March 21 with Rev. Iliya Anthony and Rev. Yakubu Dzarma. Rev. Anthony, however, died in the kidnappers’ den.
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Police battle four-man kidnappers’ gang in Port Harcourt
The police Thursday intercepted a four-man gang of heavily armed suspected kidnappers operating along waterways and hinterland in Rivers and Bayelsa.
Police spokesman Donald Awunah, stated this in a statement in Abuja.
Awunah said the suspects were intercepted by the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, while on their way for an operation.
He said that the IRT operatives, who acted on intelligence, were engaged in a gun battle by the “kidnappers’’ during which three of the latter were fatally wounded.
He said that one James Peter, 30, from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa was arrested at the scene, while the rest escaped.
“The arrested member of the gang has been cooperating with the police in their investigation by providing very valuable information on the membership of the gang and their mode of operation.
“Weapons recovered from the kidnappers include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one AK47 rifle, chains of GPMG ammunition and two fully loaded AK47 magazines.
“Efforts are in top gear to arrest fleeing members of the gang and recover their cache of arms,’’ the police spokesman said.
He quoted the I-G, Mr Ibrahim Idris, as reiterating his appeal to Nigerians to keep assisting the police with valuable information on suspected criminals.
Idris assured the public of renewed commitment on the part of the police in the fight against crime and other anti-social behaviours, Awunah said.
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Lagos State okays death penalty for kidnappers
The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday approved death sentence for kidnappers, if their victims die in captivity.
This followed the adoption of a report presented by Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
Tejuosho presented the report of a Stakeholders meeting on a bill titled: “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping and for Other Connected Purposes”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill was sponsored by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
The bill prescribed life sentence for kidnappers, if their victims did not die in captivity.
The bill states that any person, who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another person by any means or tricks with intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to death sentence.
The bill, which criminalised attempt to kidnap, also stipulates life imprisonment for attempted kidnap.
Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person. This attracts seven years imprisonment.
The lawmakers also approved 25 years imprisonment for whoever threatens to kidnap another person through phone call, e-mail, text message or any other means of communication.
The bill provides that any person, who knowingly or willfully allows his premises, building or a place or belonging under his control to be used for the keeping of a kidnapped person is guilty of an offence under the law and is liable to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
NAN reports that the lawmakers amended some sections of the bill while debating the report before its adoption.
The bill, which is aimed at ensuring zero tolerance for kidnapping, however, awaits third reading before it will be sent to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for assent. -
Kidnappers kill 72- year-old retired principal after collecting ransom
Heartless kidnappers operating in Bayelsa State have murdered a 72-year-old retired principal, Chief Festus Sunday, after collecting ransom from his family.
The remains of the victim were brought to Yenagoa waterside yesterday by shocked family members and deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
It was gathered that there were bruises in the already decomposing body, raising suspicion that the kidnappers may have strangled their victim days before collecting the ransom.
Late Chief Sunday was abducted from his residence at Gbonibiri community, Southern Ijaw, on November 14 at about 3.45pm.
The kidnappers were said to have shattered window protectors, forced their way into the septuagenarian’s bedroom and took him to a waiting double-75 horsepower speedboat.
His remains were, however, recovered at Azaama creeks, a border between Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor local government areas.
The victim’s son, Pamiebi Sunday, who led mourning members of the family and community to deposit the corpse, lamented that the hoodlums killed his father despite collecting ransom.
Pamiebi, a lawyer, who shed tears, described his father as a peaceful man saying he never deserved a violent death.
Narrating the incident, he said: “On the 14th of this month, at about 3.45pm, I was in Abuja when I received a call that kidnappers had come to abduct my father.
“I came down and waited to get contact from them. But there was no contact until the 18th.
“They called me and said they were in custody of my father that I should bring N500million to them.
“I told them I didn’t have that kind of money. I inquired to know how I offended them that made them to kidnap my father.
“About two days ago, they came down to something reasonable that I could afford.
“So, because of the love I have for my father, I paid the ransom. They collected the ransom and told us where they kept my father.
“When the people I sent got there, it was my father’s corpse they saw.
“They killed my father and collected their ransom. One thing I know is that if this is done because of me, I have not offended anybody and I don’t know what would warrant anybody to go to this extent.”
He said that though his father was sick, he had recovered before the hoodlums kidnapped him.
He said security agencies were handling the matter adding that the police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) were all aware of the matter.
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Police search Niger for cattle rustlers, kidnappers
A detachment of riot policemen has been deployed in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State to contain cattle rustlers and kidnappers, it was learnt yesterday.
Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the deployment was part of measures to guarantee the people’s safety. He urged the policemen to exhibit professionalism.
“You must ensure implementation of the operational order designed to end cattle rustling, kidnapping and any security threat in Shiroro and the state.
“I urge you to demonstrate high sense of professionalism that will pave the way for peaceful co-existence to enable residents move on with their legitimate businesses,” he said.
Muazu added that the officers must be civil and courteous in dealing with residents and in protecting life and property.
“People should go about their legitimate businesses as sensitive security measures have been put in place against any form of threat to their lives,” he said
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Police parade 34 suspected kidnappers, robbers, rapists
Suspected kidnappers were yesterday paraded by the police in Bayelsa State, in connection with the abduction and killing of a 78-year-old victim, Dennis Ogazi.
The suspects were said to have invaded the home of the septuagenarian at Sagbama town in Sagbama Local Government on September 12, 2015, about 7:25pm. They took him to a creek in Delta State.
Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi paraded the suspected abductors at the command headquarters in Yenagoa. They are among the 34 suspects accused of committing crimes.
He said 248 suspects had been arrested, with 151 cases in court, since he assumed duty in July.
Ogunjemilusi said robbery, cultism, piracy, rape, murder and drug peddling were rampant.
On the killing of the kidnapped victim, he said investigations led to the arrest of two of the four-man gang of kidnappers on October 29.
The police boss said the suspects, David Sunshine and Otuogba Usio, confessed to the crime and confirmed that the septuagenarian died in their camp at Enwe in Isoko South Local Government of Delta State.
He said investigations were on to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover the remains of the victim.
Ogunjemilusi narrated how Ayakeme Ebikie, Frank Pere, Chimezie Richard Ibekwe, Ogoli Stephen and George Ovede robbed a high court judge in his home in Yenagoa.
He said on July 23, the hoodlums broke into the home of Justice Ebiyerin of the High Court II in Yenagoa about 2am and held him and his family captive.
“They collected his ATM card and went to withdraw money from his account. The robbers stole his plasma TV, phones and other belongings.
“But they were later arrested. Investigation shows that they are responsible for other robberies. The gang on August 22, about 2:30am, broke into the home of Tolumoye Bikikoro and robbed him of his TV set and phones,” the police commissioner said.
He said one locally-made pistol, home theatre DVD and phones were recovered from the hoodlums.
Ogunjemilusi also paraded James Kalaye and Austin Olozulu, who were said to be on the police wanted list for killing two officers.
They were reportedly nabbed at Etegwe, a popular car wash in Yenagoa, on October 30, for killing Sergeant Sagbe Owori.
The suspects were said to have killed the victim at Bossy Waters on Tombia Amassoma Road, on January 19, 2014.
The police boss said: “They were also responsible for the killing of Cpl. Manageable Ekeiweri of the Department of Operations, Yenagoa, on November 24, 2014 after which they took away his rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition.”
He said one Brownie pistol and a locally-made pistol were recovered from the suspects, adding that suspected hoodlums, namely David Obozeke, Odion Ekpon, Kelvin Kiani, Uzoma Ogini and Iheke Joseph were arrested for robbery.
Ogunjemilusi said the suspects broke into the home of Ake Godspower at Biogbolo, Yenagoa, tied him up and stole his Toyota Hilux registered as GBB 405 FS and other valuables.
Confirming that the vehicle had been recovered, he said Ovonizibe Eferebo with his gang broke into the home of Mathew Ziworitin at Okaka, Yenagoa and stole his laptop, phones and other belongings.
The police commissioner said the victim shouted for help and a patrol team intercepted the suspects in a Chevrolet car with number plate BYS 004 TR.
He said the stolen items, three locally-made pistols, two cartridges, a big iron cutter and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered in the car.
Ogunjemilusi noted that other suspects were arrested for defilement and cultism.
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JTF tackles militants, vandals, kidnappers in Niger Delta
Worried by the never-ending destruction of lives and national assets, especially oil installations, by militants and other criminal elements in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government deployed the Joint Task Force to quel the crimes. Mike Odiegwu examines the activities of the outfit and writes that the Operation Delta Safe (ODS) arm of the JTF is making progress in tackling militancy, vandalism and kidnapping.
The Operation Delta Safe (ODS) arm of the Joint Task Force (JTF), is the busiest security formation in the Niger Delta region. Officers and operatives of ODS working hard to live up to the outfit’s mandate of safeguarding the region.
Insecurity portrays the Niger Delta as the most crime-infested area in the country, after the Northeast. The troops are saddled with the responsibility of ridding the Niger Delta of militancy, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, piracy and other forms of crimes.
Every week, troops patrol the difficult, muddy and waterlogged terrains. They invade criminal hideouts, have close shaves with death from enemies of the region who are armed to the teeth.
Weekly scrutiny of the activities of ODS revealed that the outfit is achieving its mandate in the region.
Niger Delta Report obtained the following records of the weekly activities of ODS in some of their operations in the region.
Troops against sea pirates
A statement signed by the Deputy Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt. Commander Thomas Otuji, said the troops of Sector 1 in Delta State deployed at Idama waterside received distress calls by members of the community that sea pirates were terrorising them. The troops stormed the community and pursued the criminals.
The troops sank the pirates’ 200-horse-power speedboat and recovered items such as arms and ammunition, AK 47 rifle, three magazines with 20 x 7.62 millimeters (special) and two live vests.
The troops then sailed to Kula, Abonnema waterways, following a tip-off and engaged sea pirates near Olakpoko Kula where another gang engaged them in a shootout. Two of the pirates were killed while two others escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, two AK 47 magazines, 40 x 7.62 millimeter (special), two mobile phones and one speedboat.
War against oil theft: troops reject bribe
In Rivers State, troops of Sector 3 raided an illegal refining camp at Adokiye-Ama community of Okrika Local Government Area. After conducting cordon-and-search operations, they discovered massive illegal refineries.
They further discovered that the camp belonged to one Mr. George Amah, who is indigenous to Okrika. They destroyed the camp and recovered 33 pumping machines of various sizes, one power generating set; two gas cylinders for welding, five radio chargers and three speedboats.
The troops, in a separate patrol, also intercepted two wooden Cotonou boats laden with petroleum products. They recovered two welding machines, a power generating set, 10 packs of welding electrolyte, two welding masks, two bags of cement, a bundle of marine rope, four shovels, one hose and five life vests. The troops set the items ablaze.
In a similar raid around Tangolosusu area of Bonny, the ODS operatives destroyed two illegal refineries and some wooden barges.
In Delta State, ODS had major breakthroughs as the troops resisted attempts by oil thieves to make them compromise. In what was called static operations, troops arrested one Salisu Mohammed Zayyan, a driver of an Iveco petrol tanker with plate number Katsina KNK 151 XA.
The tanker was laden with 33,000 liters of substances suspected to be illegally-refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
It was arrested at Otovwodo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The suspect reportedly loaded the illegal product from a creek in Port Harcourt and was heading to Zamafara State when he was arrested. While the waybill indicated that the tanker was loaded with Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), on close examination, it was actually loaded with AGO.
Another suspect identified as Kesiena Oloya was arrested by the ODS along Jeremi Junction, Ughelli South Local Government Area. He had in his possession 35 gallons filled with AGO. The suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the troops with N29, 000, but his offer was turned down.
His Nokia mobile phone and two Vento cars with registration numbers GB 393 AA and BUR 151 AA were seized and burnt by the troops. He was later handed over to the A Division of the Nigeria Police in Ughelli.
The Eagle-eyed troops also foiled an attempt by oil thieves to use escort vehicles as a decoy to transport stolen AGO. One of the vehicles had an escort tag as its plate number while the other had registration number WWR 24 AL.
Otuji in the statement said: “They were carrying 8×300 litres and 12×60 litres of plastic drums and jerry cans of suspected illegally-refined AGO.
“It was gathered that the intention of the occupants of the vehicles was to evade scrutiny by troops.”
Similarly, the troops, in conjunction with members of Petroleum Task Force, raided two illegal oil-bunkering dumps at Ugwuangwe in Warri South Local Government Area and Udu Local Government Area. The sites were reportedly used as dump and piling camps before reloading into petroleum tankers. Items such as rubbers, hose and jerry cans were recovered and destroyed.
War against militants and kidnappers
The ODS continued its operations against a militant group operating in the creeks of Bakassi and Cross River State. In collaboration with some vigilance groups, the security operatives ambushed and killed five members of the Bakassi Strike Force (BSF)
ODS’ statement said: “The suspected militants had earlier hijacked a boat conveying large quantity of rice from a marketer at Parrot Island in Bakassi Local Government Area.
“The owner of the goods was asked to pay N500, 000 as ransom. The militants were at the point of collecting the ransom before they were encountered by the troops. Similarly, troops arrested two suspected militants of Bakassi Strike Force and a suspected cultist in Ikot Ene, Akpabayo Local Government Area and apprehended another high-profile suspected member of the Bakassi Strike Force militant known as Ekpo (alias Short Gun) at Resettlement Centre Road, 27, Obot Tom Road in Bakassi.”
Besides, operatives of ODS, in conjunction with Nigeria Police and vigilance group rescued a kidnap victim, Chief Matron of Ughelli Central Hospital, one Mrs. Patience Abere who was abducted at her residence, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, on October 19.
“The matron was abducted by three notorious armed men in her Kia Soul car with registration number AS 609 UGH. One of the suspects, Mr. Innocent Egboboh, was apprehended while two of the abductors fled on sighting the troops. Two locally-made pistols and three live cartridges were recovered from the criminals.
“Troops of Sector 1 also trailed and arrested suspected kidnappers, one Mr. Simon Agbabule and his accomplices at Okwugbude Community in Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State.
“The criminals were on their way to kidnap a victim when the troops monitored and swung on them. Items recovered included one AK 47 rifle, two magazines and 49 x 7.62 millimeters (special) ammunition.
“It has come to the notice of Operation Delta Safe that criminals hide under names of reputable companies by using their vehicles/trucks to perpetuate crimes.
“We appreciate the untiring support of members of the public for providing timely pieces of information to the troops. We are resolute that no amount of inducement by recalcitrant criminals will compromise our resilient troops from ridding the region of economic saboteurs.”