The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnappers

  • Police rescue 12-year-old from kidnappers

    Police rescue 12-year-old from kidnappers

    The police in Ogun have arrested one Odele Tosin for allegedly masterminding Friday’s kidnap of a teenage girl.

    Eniola Oyekanmi, 12, was kidnapped at the Ketu area of Lagos State and taken to a hotel in Mowe from where the kidnappers contacted her family to demand ransom.

    Unfortunately for the gang, Anti-Robbery team from Mowe Division got information of their whereabouts, stormed the place at the wee hours of yesterday and rescued the girl unscathed.

    Tosin was arrested, while his accomplices fled the scene.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said vigorous search was on for the fleeing suspects.

    “The girl was rescued around 1am unhurt. The Commissioner of Police (CP) Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered a serious manhunt for the escaped members of the gang.

    “He also directed that the suspect be transferred to the anti-kidnapping unit at the command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta for discreet investigation,” the spokesperson said.

  • Police arrest 11 kidnap suspects, rescue 12 victims in Kano

    Police arrest 11 kidnap suspects, rescue 12 victims in Kano

    The Kano state police Command Wednesday said it arrested 11 suspected kidnappers, and rescued 12 kidnap victims from the dreaded Falgore Forest in Dogua Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking to Reporters at the Command’s headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rabiu Yusuf said due to the upsurge of kidnapping and armed banditry, especially in the Southern part of the state, the Command rejuvenated its anti-kidnapping squad in its bid to launch a major offensive on notorious criminals.

    According to him: “a fierce gun duel for almost one hour ensued at the first and second gates before the main camp was penetrated,” adding that those arrested during the operation include, Bello Bello Shano, Debo Ibrahim, Lawal Shuaibu, Adamu Abubakar and Nura Salisu of Dariya Shere village.

    Others include, Zubairu Mua’azu of Daurawa village, Umar Bello of Kekenta village all in Doguwa Local Government Area,Ibrahim Bashir  S/Kaura Village, Adamu Gainaku,Abdulrasak Isyaku of Gidan Iya, Ruga-Ruga village from Tunduwada Local Government Area  and Maharazu Yahaya

    The Commissioner of Police also stated that while some escaped into the thick forest with bullet wounds, during the mop-up operation , one Bello Salleh and Mohammed Sani all of Rafin Kura village in Dogowua LGA , were kidnapped on the very date were rescued .

    He further disclosed that ten other victims who were taken hostage at the forest including women were also rescued , they are , Halima Sa’adu, Rabi Idri, Amos Yakubu, Jacob Ibrahim all of Doguwa Local Government Area.

    Others are Hajara Yakubu of Karasa village, Maimuna Abubakar , Sule Maigoro , Ibrahim Umaru , Musa Idi and Alhaji Ibrahim Hamisu .

    The exhibits recovered in the Falgore forest camp include, one AK 47 Riffle, two loaded magazines, 250 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, eight Bajaj motorcycles, criminal masks and personal belongings, saying that, “some quantity of dried leaves suspected to e Indian hemp, some quantity of food items , drinks and drugs were equally uncovered from them.”

    “I wish to further inform you that all the victims underwent post-trauma counseling and medical examination, today, they will be formally handed over to their respective families,” he added.

  • Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    …As police arrest Isheri ‘kidnappers’, reads riot act
    Kidnappers of the four students and two teachers of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe ferried them to safety in two speedboats, The Nation learnt Wednesday.

    It was gathered that Abu, Emmanuel Okonkwo, Jeremiah Ruth, Isaac Adebisi, Junior School Vice Principal, AO Oyesola and English teacher, Lukman Oyerinde were dropped off inside a forest where they trekked for over two hours before meeting their relatives.

    The Nation gathered that they were asked to walk in a straight line and not look back until they got to the point where family members of the sick victim and another parent have waited for over four hours.

    While the Vice Principal was said to have been in front, Oyerinde, it was gathered, was asked to stay at the back of the queue so that the children could be protected.

    The victims were taken to General Hospital, Epe for checkup, were some of them were diagnosed of typhoid and malaria.

    However, efforts to see the victims Wednesday failed as our reporter was told at the hospital that they have been discharged.

    According to the father of one of the victims, they were moved to a private residence in Epe, where the school’s principal addressed them.

    He said: “They spent several hours at the hospital and were later moved to a house in Epe town where the principal addressed them. Some of them were diagnosed of malaria and typhoid, including the one who was sick.

    “Two parents went to a designated place in Epe, where the kidnappers asked them to come. They were at the place around 6pm and stayed there till about 10pm without any sign of the victims.

    “As it was getting late, they said they were scared but had to remain there because that was the kidnappers’ instruction.  So, around 10:30pm, the victims were seen and they told them that they trekked for over two hours on a straight line, without looking back.

    “It seems where the speedboats dropped them off was the island of the militants because they said that it was inside a bush.

    “You cannot talk to my son bow because they are still busy but when we are ready, I will invite you for interview.”

    Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has read riot act to kidnappers, especially those operating in Lagos and Ogun states.

    Idris sounded the warning while confirming the arrests of suspected kidnappers of landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate in Isheri North, Lagos.

    According to a statement signed by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP), Natei Okunna (gang leader), James Kegbe alias JJ, ThankGod Segede and Trust Bourdilon were apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a unit under the IGP, while they were spending their loots.

    He said: “This feat was achieved as a result of due diligence and intelligence led policing exhibited by members of the Force and the zeal shown by public spirited citizens to rid our society of crime.

    “The suspects were arrested at different locations where they had gone to spend their share of the ransom. They, in the course of investigation, volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in the kidnap incident.

    “The IGP has restated the commitment of the Police Force to fight crime, especially the prevalent scourge of kidnapping to a bearable and tolerable state. He urges Nigerians to always be law abiding and to see themselves as stakeholders in this noble cause.”

  • Kidnappers of Lagos schoolgirls drop ransom to N30m

    Kidnappers of Lagos schoolgirls drop ransom to N30m

    Kidnappers of four students, a teacher and Junior School Principal of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe, Lagos State have reduced ransom demand to N30 million.

    It was gathered the kidnappers had earlier demanded N120 million for release of the victims abducted on Thursday morning.

    Our correspondent learnt the N30 million, which amounts to N5million per victim, was reached after several pleas by affected families.

    The kidnappers contacted one of the parents and demanded N20million while another was asked to bring N10million, said one of the affected parents.

    It was learnt that not all the families were reached out to by the kidnappers whose number was restricted.

    According to the source, they have been able to speak to the children who were reported fine.

    He said: “We have spoken to them. They are fine and their kidnappers assured us that nothing would happen to them as long as we cooperate and not involve the police.

    “Not all families were contacted. They are demanding N30m.”

    Another relative, who said her sister was called yesterday, also confirmed they were asked to bring N5million for the release of their loved one.

    “When my sister insisted in talking with our relative held captive, they fired a shot and our relative screamed in fear.

    “They said that was a warning shot and that it would be made real if we tried to bring in security.”

  • ‘We mistook the kidnappers for hunters’

    ‘We mistook the kidnappers for hunters’

    EMOTIONS were rife yesterday at Lagos State Model Junior/ Secondary School, Igbonla, a suburb of Epe area of the state where gunmen kidnapped four pupils, a teacher and the junior secondary school principal in the early hours of Thursday.

    The embattled community continued to play host to hordes of visitors, especially parents who stormed the school to ascertain that their children were not among those kidnapped.

    Some of the parents started betraying emotions before they even got to the gate of the school. Tension started building when the beleaguered parents were prevented from going in to see their children by the armed vigilante men who said they were acting on orders from above.

    They asked the parents to come back today (Saturday), which is the visiting day.

    Enraged by the development, the parents engaged the security men in a shouting match, asking why they would be prevented from seeing their wards after the incident that sent shivers down their spine.

    “I have two children here and you are telling me that I can’t go in to see them. Do you have children at all? Are you a parent? If you are a parent, you will not say what you are saying,” one of the parents angrily said.

    When cornered by our correspondent, he said: “I came all the way from Lagos to see my children after hearing about that shocking incident and they are telling me to come back tomorrow.  How possible is that when I have not seen or heard from my children? This is disheartening because I don’t know the condition of my children.”

    Also speaking, a parent who simply identified himself as Ben, expressed disappointment about the decision to prevent them from seeing their children.

    “How on earth would anybody prevent me from seeing my son after that kind of incident? I was urinating on my body when I heard about the incident and couldn’t even sleep all the night. I hit the road very early to come and see my children and somebody is saying no. I will bite somebody here because my mind can’t be at rest until I have seen my child.”

    One of the administrative staff of the school who did not want her name in print described the experience as unforgettable.

    She said: “I was in the hostel preparing what the students would eat when we started hearing strange gun shots.  When I hear d the gunshots, I knew those shots were not the regular hunter’s gunshots.  Immediately, my colleagues and I stepped out to see what was happening. Before we took three steps, we saw a heavily armed man that was hooded. Instantly, we developed goose pimples all over our bodies and started running inside the bush.

    “Before we knew it, students joined us in the race.  We used our bodies to crush the thick bush. If you see the place, you will think it was cutlass that they used to cut it. It wasn’t cutlass, we used our heads, legs and hands to bring down the bush. We jumped, dived and did everything possible to run out of danger.

    “The children, who are mostly in junior schools started crying. I quickly prevailed on them to keep quiet to avoid giving us out. Instead, I said they should be praying in their different languages and religions.  After some time, we saw some teachers coming towards us. They said the gunmen had left and asked us to come out. We quickly went and made food for the students and later knew that some people were kidnapped by the gunmen.  This is the first time this kind of incident would happen since the school was established in 1988.”

    A resident of a building beside the school, who identified herself as Bunmi Pekun, was yet to come to terms with the strange development in the community. She said she was taking her children to school when the incident occurred.

    The terror-stricken woman narrated her experience thus: “I was taking my children to school that Thursday morning when we started hearing gunshots with some people shouting war, war.  I quickly ran back home with the children thinking that it was Boko Haram members that invaded the community. Before I knew what was happening, students from the school started running into our house crying and totally devastated.  It was the students that told us what exactly happened.

    “The gunmen, from what we heard, were already lurking around the community before they carried out the attack. It was immediately the junior and senior school principals stepped their feet inside the school that they began their operations.  They were asking the students to show them the child of a commissioner in the school.  They attacked and cut the head of a female staff member with cutlass and asked her to lead them to the principal. When they got to the junior school, he pleaded that they should release the children and take him away. But the plea fell on their deaf ears as they took him away with the students.

    “They also beat up the senior school principal. They asked him to prostrate and beat him very well. I didn’t allow my children to go to school because what they experienced yesterday was scary. No sane parent would allow the children to go to school after the ugly experience.”

    Another parent, who lives in the neighbourhood,  Segun Sulaimon,  said he has been living in fear since the incident happened.  He also did not allow his children to go to school as a result of fears.

    “There is nobody that will remain the same after that incident. If an adult like me is yet to overcome the shock, imagine what the impact would be on our children and the students of the school. How could I allow my children to go to school with that horrible experience? I prefer to have them stay here with me than to hear any negative story. I would have even left the environment if not for the presence of armed security men in the whole place and the assurance by the deputy governor that all is well.”

    Some of the children who spoke with The Nation were visibly troubled as they narrated their ordeal.

    One of them, who gave his name as Hamzat Abaniwonda, said: “We were at the bus stop waiting to board a motorcycle to school when we started hearing gunshots. We started telling ourselves that it was the hunters that were shooting at birds and jokingly said that they should remember to keep our share.

    “We were still laughing over the matter when a teacher from Lagos Model told us to run inside the bush because there was trouble in the school. Our hearts immediately skipped because what we thought wasn’t what was actually happening. Without waiting for more information, we ran into the bush in different directions and didn’t bother if anything was there that was capable of hurting us.”

    Another child, who gave his name simply as Gani said: “I am still afraid.  Each time I hear any strange sound, my mind goes back to the Thursday incident. The gunshots were deafening and they made the whole building to vibrate.    My mother quickly pushed us inside the house when they were shooting. She pushed us under the bed and locked the door.”

    When our correspondent visited the river through which the gunmen invaded the community, armed marine policemen were spotted in two boats on the river.

    One of them who craved anonymity said: “We have been here since yesterday. We went to a neighbouring community where the residents told us that the gunmen came and harassed them before coming to attack the school. They said that they came in a boat but when they took us to the spot where the boat was parked, we discovered that it was no longer there.  We later took local vigilante men to comb the entire area but we didn’t see the hoodlums.”

     

  • Kidnappers of Lagos students, teachers demand ransom

    Kidnappers of Lagos students, teachers demand ransom

    The  kidnappers that invaded Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe Thursday  and went away with  four students, a teacher and a vice principal ,are now demanding a ransom for their release.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that the kidnappers contacted families of three of their hostages early yesterday  to make the ransom demand.

    The families refused to disclose how much was demanded of them,keeping to a warning by the hoodlums not to announce the sum.

    The abduction is particularly excruciating  for the parents of one of the abducted students,Ruth,whose father was away in Benue State to make arrangement for the burial of his own father when he received news of Ruth’s kidnapping.

    He took the next available vehicle to return to Epe to see how he could get his daughter out of the kidnappers’ den.

    Ruth’s was all tears yesterday as she,accompanied by friends and relations,stormed the school to seek information on her daughter.

    Sources said the kidnappers contacted three families at 2am, 2:50am and 4am yesterday askig for ransom.

    This informed an emergency meeting of the  parents and school management yesterday.

    It ended at about  5:30pm.

    The kidnappers, it was learnt, warned the parents to not disclose the ransom demanded to security agencies.

    They warned that failure to keep to their instruction would  jeopardise the safety of their loved ones.

    A relation of  one of the victims said: “My sister’s phone rang and a male voice instructed her to leave the place if there was anyone with her.

    “The stranger said he was calling in respect of our kidnapped relative. He warned that details  of the conversation should be divulged to security agents.

    “He threatened that if the instruction was not adhered to, the family would be held responsible for anything that happens to the victim.

    “Yes, they demanded for ransom. But I cannot tell you in order not to jeopardize the safety of our relative. But they demanded of millions of naira. My sister pleaded with them to bring down the amount that her husband was at the moment out of job but the stranger did not respond.

    “She also asked to speak with our relative with them, but the request was  not granted. She was told that she would be allowed to do so after agreement was reached on the payment.”

    According to a source, some personal effects of the victims, including a mobile phone which fell down  while they were being whisked away were recovered.

    Security agents  yesterday intensified their search and rescue operations around Epe, Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode, using air, land and waterways .

    It was gathered that the security agencies were also tracking the kidnappers to ascertain their identities and exact location.

    Efforts to get the police command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) failed at the time of filing this report.

    The Nation also gathered that Ruth’s parents were  in his home state of Benue on Thursday to plan for his own father’s burial when news reached them  about their  daughter’s kidnap.

    They  quickly abandoned the burial arrangement to return  to Epe.

    Ruth’s  mother  wept  uncontrollably yesterday  as she alighted from the vehicle that conveyed the family to the school. The visibly worried father paced  sorrowfully behind his  wife as other relations also betrayed emotions.

    Speaking with The Nation, one of the relations who identified herself as Ruth’s aunt, said: ” My aunt travelled with the husband for the father inlaw’s burial. It was her friend who also has a child in the school that called  to inform her about the incident.

    “ I live in Epe but wasn’t aware of the incident until my father called to inform me. I quickly made contact with the woman and ran down to the school to check. When I got here, we searched everywhere for Ruth but didn’t see her. We were told she was one of the victims.

    “My sister and her husband returned  from Benue today (Friday). They are inside the school with the management. We are yet to hear from the kidnappers. They are yet to call us to ask for ransom.”

  • Kidnappers demand N50m for abducted businessman

    An Aba businessman popularly known as Chief Okpotemba, a native of Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, is yet to be freed  after over one week of being abducted by unknown gunmen.

    Okpotemba is one of the biggest clearing agents in the commercial city.

    The Nation gathered that the gunmen stormed his office in the  evening of September 16 while he was about leaving.

    Sources close to the family told our reporter that the hoodlums, before whisking him away to an unknown destination, shot the philanthropist in the leg after he allegedly resisted them.

    It was learnt that the inability of the kidnappers to release the man in the past one week has traumatised his family who are worried about his health.

    The Nation also gathered that efforts made by the family to persuade the kidnappers to allow the victim speak with the family fell on deaf ears, even as the kidnappers kept assuring them that the man whose health is frail is fine.

    It was said that the abductors made an initial demand of N50 million ransom when they contacted the family.

    The family said they did not have the amount demanded by the kidnappers, The Nation learnt.

    Negotiations were ongoing at the time of filing this report.

    Some of the residents of Dear John Estate, off 7Up Road, Ogbor Hill where the victim lives described the man as kindhearted who has used his wealth to touch the lives of the downtrodden including widows and orphans, among others.

    A resident of the area who claimed to know the victim, described Okpotemba as a detribalized man who enjoys making people around him happy.

    The resident wondered what offence the businessman could have committed that caused the kidnappers to have held him in their custody this long despite his state of health.

    The source said, “The continued detention of Chief is causing more psychological trauma to the already traumatised family and we are urging the police and other security agencies in Aba and the state at large to ensure that the man regains his freedom and to also make sure that the perpetrators of the act were brought to book. Chief is a good man and has been using his wealth to affect people around him positively.

    “Are we talking about countless jobless and unemployed youths that he has helped to become landlords and living big in this city? We learnt that he single handedly sponsor the August Meeting of his town’s women. We learnt that Chief was shot in the leg before they took him and we are wondering the kind of treatment that the kidnappers should be giving to a man that they kidnapped. What we want is his immediate release.”

    When contacted, the Abia State Police Relation Officer, ASP Ogbonnaya Nta confirmed that the kidnapped businessman was still in the custody of the kidnappers and assured that the police were on top of the situation to ensure that the victim was reunited with his family members.

  • Don still in kidnappers’ den two weeks after

    The whereabouts of a lecturer with the  Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Emmanuel Obi, has remained unknown two weeks after his abduction.

    Obi, who lectures in the Department of Accounting, was kidnapped two weeks ago in his home at Rumuekini in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State.

    The Nation learnt the hoodlums have not demanded a ransom.

    The university management condemned the incident.

    A statement by Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Joseph Kinanee said the lecturer was abducted in his home two weeks ago.

    He begged the kidnappers to release him.

    Prof. Kinanee urged security agents to rescue the don, who he described as a ‘mere lecturer’ rendering services to the public.

    Police spokesman Omoni Nnamdi has confirmed the release of a Catholic priest.

    The cleric was abducted on Sunday morning on his way to church at Ogbakiri in Emohua Local Government.

     

  • Kidnappers treated us well

    Ucheagwu looked tired in his checked trousers, ‘Ankara’ shirt and black leather slippers. It appears he was yet to get his beards shaved as he came out of his home to welcome the Ogun state Police Commissioner (CP), Ahmed Ilyasu.

    Though putting up a strong appearance, it was obvious that he was still in shock over the incident. Initially he refused granting any interviews and denied his picture being made public. But after being persuaded, he gave in on the condition that his picture would not be taken.

    Reliving the experience, Ucheagwu said they were treated well by the kidnappers, adding that their captors even provided them with mosquito nets in order for them to sleep well.

    His words: “I thank the Lord who was there for us from inception to the end. I am alive, safe and sound. It wasn’t a good experience but it has come and gone. We were doing our routine exercise when we started hearing gunshots. Some guys talked. We could not escape it.

    “They  collected our mobile phones and took us to their den, but actually took good care of us. They made sure we ate and relaxed as much as possible. They sympathised with us that they know it’s not the right place for us. They said they are kidnapping people because they are fighting a cause they want the entire country to hear them out.

    “We asked why us? And they said that if people of our calibre are kidnapped, government would give them attention and listen to their demands. We wanted to know what their agitation was and they said inequality, injustice and degradation of their area without anyone thinking of how they survive.

    “They said that they are naturally gifted with great wealth but they are not part and parcel of it. They can’t live their normal lives which was dependent on fish farming and agriculture because their waters and lands are polluted.

    “We told them we have heard and would pass their massage forward. We asked them the way forward in order for peace to reign and they said government need to right the wrongs that have existed for a long time.

    “They said they should be recognised and be given what is due to them in terms of development. They said they have become slaves in their own country. They said if the ills are addressed, they were ready to surrender.

    “They mentioned that so many things were cut from the amnesty package and that the real surrendered militants were not the ones benefitting. They said like in the case of ghost workers at ministries, unknown people are the ones benefitting from the amnesty.

    We told them they have valid points but were not using the right approach.

    “They were nice to us, they covered us with nets to prevent mosquitoes. They made sure we were comfortable. But you know, no matter how little your house is, a suit in a five-star hotel can’t give you the comfort of your home.

    “Government should try and alleviate poverty in the land. We know that things are not so good, but let the government do its best, get the right people in the right places and also get aggrieved groups to dialogue. War cannot solve the problem, rather things will keep degenerating.

    “From what we saw, it seems those guys (militants) are ready for war. To them, there is a revolution and they don’t care if they die, as long as their generation benefit from what they are struggling to achieve. Government should consider that innocent people might fall victim of what they know nothing about.”

  • Kidnappers ‘free’ one Isheri landlord

    Kidnappers ‘free’ one Isheri landlord

    One of the four persons kidnapped last Saturday along Channels Avenue in Isheri, Lagos, reportedly regained freedom yesterday.

    Three landlords- Kenedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu Bello and Mr. Fidelis Esang, as well as their trainer Coach Oni were abducted by hooded gunmen dressed in military camouflages, while on their routine exercise.

    The kidnappers, who made contacted on Sunday morning, demanded N300 million for each of the victims, an amount the families said they don’t have.

    There were conflicting stories in respect to the man’s freedom. While some claimed he escaped from the kidnappers’ den, other stated that the man was set free after his family paid over one million Naira.

    It was gathered that the abductors ferried the landlord to the bank of a river around the Estate at the wee hours of Tuesday.

     The Nation learnt that the man who spent some time at his home located on Peace Avenue, Oshorun Heritage Estate, was later whisked away to an unknown destination.

    A source who hinted on the release, said that the landlord’s wife and sister were in touch with the kidnappers, adding that they were the ones who rallied round for the ransom.

    But the Estate executives, who have been meeting on how to secure the release of all the victims said they were yet to confirm the news of his release.

    According to one of the executives, the man’s family told them this morning that they were still expecting him.

    Contacted, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Abdulmajid Ali said the police heard it as rumour.

    He said: “It is a rumour. We have not seen the man and his people have not come to inform us about his release. I can tell you that we have located the kidnappers and will get them soon.”