The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnappers

  • Our kidnappers mistook us for VIPs – Pastor

    Our kidnappers mistook us for VIPs – Pastor

    The Christ Embassy group Pastor, Lawrence Ehimare, and 11 other passengers abducted along Bayelsa State waterways, Tuesday, regained their freedom.

    Ehimare was among the occupants of two speedboats which were hijacked on Monday along Brass-Yenagoa waterways by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers and sea robbers.

    Narrating his ordeal, the pastor said the 14 hours they spent with the kidnappers was a nasty period.

    He said their boats were hijacked at about 9am and taken to the hoodlums’ camp in the creeks.

    He said they were blindfolded by the gunmen who took their time to dispossess them of their valuables including mobile phones and cash.

    He said the abductors initially mistook them for very important personalities they could hold hostage and later ask for ransom.

    He said the gunmen were mad after discovering that the occupants of the boats were civil servants.

    He said: “Initially they thought we were important person they will hold down and demand ransom. So, what they did was look into our faces and ask, honourable, who are you? Are you not an honourable?

    “And when they got to me I told them I am a pastor. When they discovered that most of the passengers were normal civil servants and pastor we were released and dumped near a fishing point at around 11pm.

    “It was from there that we were eventually rescued through a fishing canoe to Okoroma town, where we slept till this morning.

    “It was not a pleasant experience but I thank God for his divine mercies and for rescuing all of us alive. It was horrifying but I want to give God all the glory.”

     

  • Kidnappers of Fegor Ogude’s wife demand ransom

    Fegor Ogude will miss the start of Amkar Perm’s training camp scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 11  to  31 as a result of the abduction of his wife in Delta State, Nigeria.

    The General-Director of Amkar Perm, Igor Rezvuhin, has revealed that the hoodlums have asked the Nigeria international midfielder for a ransom but refused to disclose the amount.

    “He will definitely miss the beginning of the camp. What will happen next, we’ll see, ” said Igor Rezvuhin to tass.ru.

    “( Criminals ) asked for ransom but I’m not prepared to discuss exactly how much. We will do everything we can to help the  player get out of the situation. ”

    The 28 – year – old Ogude transferred to Amkar Perm in January 2014 after spending three and a half years with Vålerenga in Norway.

  • kidnappers of Lagos Bishop, wife demand N10m ransom

    The kidnappers of Bishop of the Lagos Diocess of the Christ African Church, GT Adebanjo and his wife have demanded N10 million to release the couple.

    Our reporter learnt that the top hierarchy of the African Church were locked in negotiation with the kidnappers at the time of this report on Saturday afternoon.

    A former chancellor of the church, Mr Debo Oduguwa, a lawyer, told our reporter, “They (kidnappers) contacted some of our bishops today (Saturday) and asked for N10 million to facilitate their release.”

    It would be recalled that the couple was abducted on Friday evening in a village near Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta state.

    The driver of the black Toyota Avensis In which the clergy and his wife were riding was shot in the arm. He is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital in Warri.

    Oduguwa, who spoke in a telephone chat with our reporter on Friday night after the incident said: “The bishop of our church was abducted in a village just about five minutes to Warri.”

    He said the senior clergy man was on his way to the Oil City of Warri to attend the annual harvest and thanksgiving ceremony of the Christ African church, Odion Road Warri, when he fell prey to the hoodlums at about 4pm.

    “Bishop Adebanjo was on an episcopal visit to one of the Arch-deaconery in Warri when he was abducted. The, driver was shot and is in one of the hospital in Warri as I speak with you.”

    Oduguwa further revealed that although the vehicle had been recovered, the whereabouts outs of the bishop and his wife remained unknown when he spoke with our reporter at 10pm last night.

    He further revealed that spirited effort was being made by top members of the church and their members in the police and armed forces to secure the release of the couple.

    To this end, Oduguwa disclosed that they were networking with the Oyo State Commissioner and the Public Relations Officer in the Force headquarters who are members of the church.

    Contacted, Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr Usman Baba Alkali, confirmed the report, describing it as an unfortunate incident.

    He said, “It is an unfortunate incident but the police is working to rescue the victims.

    “We have recovered the vehicle the couple were driving. The driver who was shot in the hand has been rushed to the hospital, he is in stable condition.

    “Our intelligence revealed that the kidnappers were heading to Warri and we have a stop and search operation ongoing.”

    Cap Alkali revealed that the kidnappers were on a Toyota Camry.

  • Kidnappers still insists on N150m ransom — Siasia

    Kidnappers still insists on N150m ransom — Siasia

    The Chief Coach of Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia has told NationSport that the Siasia family is still negotiating with the kidnappers of his mother Madam Beauty Ogere Siasia as they are still insisting on the N150 million they have asked for.

    The embattled Coach who couldn’t hide his emotions said that he is gradually losing hope on the release of his mother since those who are supposed to take the matter very seriously have not even deemed it fit to contact him or his family on the issue.

    “My friend as I speak with you my faith in getting my mother released from the kidnappers’ den is fast diminishing because those that supposed to handle the matter since I am on national duty seems not to be concerned at all.

    “My family contact that is discussing with the kidnappers is still discussing with them and they have not changed their position on the N150 million ransom request. But all my hope is in God Almighty to touch the hearts of the kidnappers to free my mum.

    “My State government has not said anything about the matter and the worst scenario is that the National Sports Commission, led by the Minister of Youths and Sports Solomon Dalung and the Director General of the NSC Mallam Al-Hassan Yakmut has not called me or any member of my family to identify with us in this our trying period. I am not happy at all. It is very sad”, Siasia told NationSport yesterday morning from Gambia.

    “I have not yet had anything from the Federal Government on what they are trying to do to rescue my mother. At least everybody knows that I am on national duty and I am very worried about my mother while here in Gambia. I have not heard anything and I want to know what they are doing on my behalf”, Siasia cried out.

    Samson Siasia’s junior brother Moses Siloko Siasia who is also one of the Governorship candidates for the forthcoming Bayelsa State’s elections also revealed to NationSport yesterday that the Federal Government and Bayelsa State Government have allegedly abandoned his family on this matter.

    “The Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson has not called any member of the family nor any of his aides have done so at least to show love, affection and identify with us and also proffer ways of solving this problem. It’s only the DSS (Department of Stare Services) that have come to our aid that have been assisting us”, the People’s Democratic Movement Gubernatorial flag bearer for Bayelsa also disclosed.

  • Gunmen abduct Bayelsa community leader

    Gunmen abduct Bayelsa community leader

    A community leader in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Chief Geoffrey Agorodo, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    The Nation gathered that Agorodo was whisked away to an unknown place on Friday at about 8:30pm by the four-man kidnap gang.

    The gunmen were reportedly dressed in army uniform when the struck at Ogbia waterfront and seized their target.

    They were said to have bundled Agorodo into a waiting speedboat and sped off after shooting sporadically to scare people away.

    The Chairman of the Ogbia Clan, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Osaanya B. Osaanya, condemned the incident saying it was one abduction too many in the council.

    Osaanya said: “Kidnapping has become a worrisome development in Ogbia. Kidnappers have laid siege in our council and at the last count over five persons were abducted in the past one month. This is unacceptable. Most of the victims were elderly men and women including traditional rulers.”

    Osaanya urged youths to desist from criminality and engage themselves in legitimate means of livelihoods.

    He asked the state government and security agencies especially the police to evolve a better productive approach of tacking criminality in the council.

    He asked the Ogbia local government area to float a security programme to tackle the trend.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the development and said investigations were ongoing to unmask the identities of the abductors and rescue the victim.

  • Falae’s abductors arrested

    Falae’s abductors arrested

    Five of the suspected abductors of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae, have been arrested.

    The arrest came three weeks after Falae was kidnapped on his farm at Ilado Village in Akure North local government area of Ondo State, by some suspected Fulani herdsmen

    The elder statesman was released after four days in captivity along Akure-Owo road.

    Family sources confirmed that three of the hoodlums were arrested in Niger State last Sunday, while the other two were picked over the weekend.

    It was learnt that all the suspects had been kept in the custody of Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) of the State Police Command, Akure, the state capital.

    Police men were also still on the trail of the other fleeing suspects.

    According to a source “Five of them have been arrested, three were arrested in Niger State on Sunday while two others were arrested somewhere I cannot say for now but all the suspects arrester are now in the custody of SARS.

    ” The police are still searching for the other seven suspects and I am sure they too will be arrested  very soon”.

    When contacted ,the state Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) Mr Femi Joseph, could not confirmed the development but said the issue of the kidnap of the former Minister for Finance was being handled by the Inspector General of Police(IG)Solomon Arase.

    He said” I don’t know anything about the issue again, it is the IG that has taken over the issue of Chief Falae because it is a national issue. The IG is likely to brief the press about the development today”

  • Kidnappers of wife, 4 children of former Delta Assembly clerk to spend 67 yrs in jail

    A Delta State High Court, sitting at Asaba, the Delta State capital, has sent four persons to a total of 67 years imprisonment with hard labour for kidnapping one Mrs. Ighowoh Yavbiere and her four children, including her 3-weeks old baby.

    Mrs. Ighowoh Yavbieri is the wife of Mr. Raymond Yavbieri, a former clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly.

    The court, presided over by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Marshal Mukoro, in its verdict, sentenced the four accused persons to over six decades behind bars for their involvement in the offence. Three of the accused persons got 20 years each respectively, while the fourth accused was convicted only on count one and was sentenced to seven years with hard labour.

    The Delta Chief Judge slammed the kidnappers with the jail term, having pronounced them guilty of count 1, 2, and 3 of the information charge out of the six count proffered against them by the Department of Prosecution of the Delta State Ministry of Justice. They were convicted on the charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and demanding property with menace as they received the sum of N7million from the former clerk before his family of five regained freedom from their abductors.

    The kidnappers initially requested for a ransom of N50million before it was negotiated to N7million, which was said to have been dropped at a location along the Asaba-Benin highway.

    The four kidnappers, who appeared unruffled by the verdict, include 28-year old Louis Achollo Etomi, a Tiller; Andrew Monye, a taxi driver; Desire Nwaobi, an okada rider and Emeka Iwowo, a wheel barrow pusher.

    The four of kidnappers, with two others now at large, abducted Mrs. Yavbieri and four of her kids November 20, 2011, along Jesus Saves road within the Asaba Judicial Division, Asaba, while on her way to church.

    After their arrest, they admitted in their voluntary confessional statements, to have participated in the crime. They also revealed that they used part of the share from the ransom proceeds to acquire an Audi car, motorcycle, electronics and plots of land, while one of them lodged himself in a popular hotel, located along DLA road to enjoy his loot.

  • Kidnappers of Benue farmer demand N5m

    Prominent farmer and President/Founder, 9-9 Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, Ihught Mr Iorbee Audu has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    His son, Aseer Iorbee said he was whisked away about 8:30pm local time on Thursday from his residence in Ihugh, a town notorious for armed robbery.

    Although Iorbee’s whereabouts is unknown, the kidnappers called on Friday morning to request that N5 million be set aside ahead of further directives.

    According to his son, Aseer, police in Vandeikya, Benue North East Senatorial District, have warned the family to avoid negotiating with the kidnappers.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benue State Command Deputy Superintendant of Police, DSP Austin Ezeani said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

    Iorbee is a leading citrus and tuber crops producer in Ihugh, the commercial nerve centre of Benue.

  • The Sun DMD to kidnappers: release my wife

    The Sun DMD to kidnappers: release my wife

    •Condemnations trail abduction

    Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of The Sun Steve Nwosu yesterday appealed to the abductors of his wife, Toyin, to release her.

    He made the appeal at his Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos residence, while addressing reporters on the early Monday morning incident.

    A distraught Nwosu described himself as a poor journalist, who does not have the N100 million ransom being demanded by the abductors.

    He said the abductors were yet to contact the family again.

    “Apart from yesterday’s (Monday) contact they established with me, the abductors of my wife have not made any other calls.

    “At the moment, it is deadlocked and they have refused to cooperate.

    “I have left everything to God. All I would say is that I am a poor journalist and do not have the kind of money they are demanding,” he said.

    The kidnap has sparked public outrage, with many calling on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.

    A journalist, Lanre Idowu, said the incident was a reminder that insecurity still persists.

    He said: “It is terrible and surprising. It is a green reminder that we are still in insecure times.”

    A lawyer and activist, Giwa Amu, called for the enforcement of maximum punishment for kidnappers.

    “In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person’s will. It is also the crime of unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person by force or fraud.”

    The Sun publisher, Orji Kalu, described the act as evil.

    In a statement, Kalu said: “The abduction is unfortunate and disturbing. The journalist and his family live a modest life and are law abiding citizens and as such don’t deserve this dreadful treatment.”

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in a statement by its spokesman, Salabiu Aderemi Alli, said Mrs. Nwosu did not deserve such ill-treatment.

    There are speculations that the kidnappers may be linked to the armed gang that has terrorised commercial banks in various parts of the state.

    The speculation arose as a result of the modus operandi adopted by the abductors, which observers fear, appeared similar to those of the robbers.

    Police spokesman Joseph Offor said he could not comment on if they were members of the same gang.

    “I do not know about this insinuation but I will pass it on to the investigation department.

    “The command is working at ensuring that Mrs. Nwosu is rescued and reunited with her family,” he said.

  • Police kill three suspected kidnappers in Delta

    The Delta State Police Command has killed three suspected kidnappers.

    The gang allegedly abducted Mrs. Paaga Blessing Emabari, 48, at Okuokoko in Okpe Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that the victim escaped from her abductors before squaring up with the police in gun battle.

    Police spokesperson Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Orerokpe division’s patrol team intercepted one Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number BWR 532 HL.

    The spokesperson said the occupants of the car turned in a suspicious manner on sighting the patrol team.

    Their action aroused the suspicion of the patrol team, which chased the car.

    According to her, with the “assistance of vigilantes, three of the hoodlums were fatally injured while others escaped with bullet wounds”.

    She added: “The vehicle was recovered to the station. Investigation is in progress while efforts to track down the fleeing criminals are on.”

    Kalu confirmed the recovery of a stolen car, a light green Toyota RAV4 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number LEH 550 AA, which was allegedly snatched from the owner at Ovwian Aladja on September 12.

    According to her, information got to the Safer Highway Patrol Team 013 at DSC Round-about in Warri.

    The petrol officers reportedly spotted the snatched vehicle, which “they flagged down, but the occupants refused to stop”.

    Kalu added: “…The vehicle was pursued by the team and the two occupants abandoned the SUV, escaping into the bush. Meanwhile, the vehicle has been recovered while investigation and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.”