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Tag: kidnappers

  • Kidnappers release woman, 83, in Ondo

    Madam Theresa Akindeju (83), mother of Mr. Benson Akindeju, the owner of Big Soul Hotel in Igbotako, Ondo State, who was kidnapped on January 8, has been released.

    She was released around 9pm on Tuesday on the Irele-Okitpupa road.

    The victim told reporters at her Igbotako home yesterday that the kidnappers took good care of her during the seven days spent with them.

    She said during her ordeal, she kept on praying that the kidnappers should release her alive to see her children again.

    Madam Akindeju said: “I was afraid when they kidnapped me, but I was fervent in prayers until they released me last night at Irele road. I thank God that they did not hurt me.”

    Akindeju said the kidnappers abducted his mother because they thought he was wealthy.

    The former marketing manager of Wale Adenuga Production, producer of the popular comedy series, “Papa Ajasco and Company”, said the kidnappers released his mother without collecting a ransom.

    He said: “The kidnappers came for my mother due to wrong information that I was a politician, who embezzled money. I have never worked for the government. I have been doing private business for over 30 years.

    “When the incident happened, I just kept praying. Although, the incident destabilised me and my business, I thank God that they released my mother safe and sound without ransom.

    “I urge the government to provide jobs for youths because unemployment is the reason many of them venture into such businesses as they revealed to my mother when she was preaching to them.”

  • Police kill two suspected kidnappers

    Two suspected kidnappers were yesterday killed by men of the Edo State Police Command in a shootout, after a 70-year-old man was abducted.

    Six others were arrested with cache of arms, including two pump action guns.

    The kidnappers abducted their victim at Ugbowo area in an Audi car, but were traced to their hideout by the police.

    Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo, who confirmed the incident, said his men rescued the victim.

    He said: “About 6am, hoodlums came with an Audi car and abducted a 70-year-old man around Ugbowo. They put in him in the booth of the car and drove off. Information got to me, so I directed our anti-kidnapping team to raid the area. Our vehicle was parked far away and we trekked to the scene.

    “One of them must have observed that we could be policemen. He shouted. They fired at us and we responded. Two of them were shot dead, while six were arrested. None of our men was injured. We thank God for that.”

  • Diobu timber market… A den of robbers, kidnappers

    Diobu timber market… A den of robbers, kidnappers

    Diobu area of Rivers state is popular in Port Harcourt, the state capital because of its high level of commercial activities, high population density and high level of crime.

    It is strategically located at the heart of Port Harcourt, and close to the state seat of power (state House). Most hosts business organisation, especially the print media, banks offices etc.

    The area is always busy and full of activities both legal and otherwise. It has several waterfronts with many squatters and squalors. Hardship and poverty are evident on waterfronts dwellers and the waterfronts are believed to be breeding grounds for criminals in the cosmopolitan city.

    Diobu boys are readily available for use by desperate political office seekers to execute dirty deals.

    Many notable personalities like the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Austin Opara (the former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representative), the famous singer Duncan Mighty, among others, grew up in the area.

    Security in Diobu as in other parts of the states was a huge challenge until the governor Amaechi took over late 2007.

    He signed into law cultism/ kidnapping bill and gave death sentence penalty for offenders. He stood against payment of ransom for kidnap victims, with the view to making the ‘business’ which at a time became the flavour of many youths for its lucrativeness less attractive.

    However the state is yet to record the first convict on the crime five years after the law was made, despite efforts by the police in apprehending and charging the culprits to court.

    The always awaited report of the state Director of public Prosecution (DPP), hardly come out, for their prosecution at the High Court to begin.

    Also the governor embarked on the demolition of some identified flashpoints- mainly popular waterfronts, like the Abonnema Wharf and Njamanze waterfronts to clear the city of criminals and their activities.

    Amaechi also announced the ban on the operation of commercial motor-cycle (okada), in the two LGAs of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City (PHALGA), amidst public criticism and resistance, but it paid off, as it reduced crime rate in Port Harcourt.

    Residents gradually began to sleep with their two eyes closed, the rate at which people were losing their handsets and women losing their handbags and its contents began to reduce, fragile security returned.

    But there are indications that the bad old days have returned to Port Harcourt. News of kidnap, cultism, snatching of bags, rape, robbery, and diversion of passengers has become the present order of the day in the city.

    Traders at the Iloabuchi, Echue, Okwelle, Eagle Island and Sandfill Timber markets all in Diobu, recently raised alarm over the resurgence of hoodlums and their nefarious activities in Diobu area especially the timber markets.

    They said their businesses have been paralysed by the criminals.

    Diobu timber markets hosts over 5,000 businesses and employs over one million workers, including traders in timber, timber mill, carpenters, wood dressers, labourers, eateries among others.

    A delegation to the Port Harcourt office of the Vintage Press, publishers of the Nation Newspaper recently told the Niger Delta Report that their businesses are under threat.

    They said both their customers and suppliers have been scared away by the criminals (cultists), who operate under the name, ‘Niger Delta Youths’.

    According to them, the hoodlums, made up of six different cult groups, operate different kidnap camps, where they rape, torture and maim their victims in each of the waterfront at the timber markets.

    They said they engage in all forms of heinous crimes unhindered and appeals, petitions to both the Azikiwe, Mile one police stations for assistance yielded no results. They said extortion of shop operators, lorry drivers who came to supply goods to them (traders), and snatching of customers’ money at payment point is the order of the day at the markets.

    They said the boys operate in the area unchallenged, alleging that they have understanding with the police, who at every evening walk down to their (criminals), camp to collect their share of the day’s loots. They have lost confidence on the conventional policemen, and appeal for the deployment of men of SARS of Joint Military Task Force(JTF), to them.

    According to them, cries and shouts for help by victims of their attack are in vain not even on close range as nobody would wish to go close to the scene of attack/crime or thank God if he lives to tell the story of his rescue mission.

    “As soon as it is 6:00pm, entire areas of the timber markets within the area become impassable by all, including commercial motorists.

    “These criminals take advantage of the darkness that characterizes the markets to carry out their nefarious activities. Although electricity polls and cables criss-crossed the markets, they have never conveyed electric current any day,” they said.

    They said several reports to both the Mile one and Iloabuchi Police stations for intervention have not yielded any result, as the situation has increased following the approaching yuletide season.

    They called Governor Chibuike Amaechi –led government and Commissioner of Police (CP), Mbu Joseph Mbu to save the means of livelihood of the over 5,000 youths that are doing the business in these markets from joblessness hardship, poverty and their attendant consequences.

    Narrating the situation, Mr. Charles Amadi, said, “for some time now, doing business at Iloabuchi Timber Market in Diobu is becoming more challenging because of the activities of hoodlums.

    “No business is going on there presently; all of our customers have deserted the market, for fear of attack by the criminals.

    “Nobody is exempted; whether you came to buy or deliver/supply goods to us you are a target of extortion, robbery and torture. Because of these ugly experiences, our customers have been scared away, we don’t see anyone again.

    “These have become a daily occurrence in the area. They pride themselves as “Niger Delta Boys” to harass attack and illegally extort monies from us and our customers.

    “vehicles that bring goods to us from Aba or Onitsha are always apprehended by this group of boys and forced to pay various amounts of illegal fees ranging between N3,000 and N5,000 (per vehicle). Any driver that resisted them, is instantly attacked with either bottle, knife or they take him on gunpoint to any of their “Inn” (inside the waterside), where they will either be forced to pay the ‘levy’ or face whatever punishment they deem feat.

    “There are several watersides in the area, like the timber waterside, Echue, Okwelle, sandfill watersides among others.

    “Sometimes they feign passengers on the roadsides, to capture commercial drivers, the moment slow down or stop to either find out where they are going to or carry them; they attack them on gunpoint and run off to the waterside.

    “Women are the worse affected; their necklaces, handbags, handsets and other belongings are always ripped off them, often time they are raped, tortured, all manner of abuse are meted out on them.

    “It is a terrible situation in the area and we are calling on the state government, security agents in the state, the Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, the military and others to come to our aid, we are helpless, the water has reached our throat we are handicap.

    “The Police have not been of any assistance to us, each time we report to them of these activities, especially whenever the illegal levies are being collected so they could be caught red handed, the police will not act immediately, and when they try to response they will come blaring their siren and the moment they suspect it was coming the area they will run, but returns the minute police leave.”

    It would be recalled that Governor Amaechi at the wake of the political crisis in the state raised the alarm over the resurgence of criminals and crime wave in the state, after directive of CP Mbu provided cover to ousted militants in the state to stage a one-day protest against the governor in the streets of Port Harcourt. The protest was led by an ex-militant leader Ateke Tom.

    But CP Mbu accused the governor of crying wolf, and reassured residents of the state, especially Port Harcourt that all is well in the state.

    However, the testimony of Mr. Casmir Uzoagba, chairman Multi-Purpose Timber contradicted the CP’s believe on the security situation in the state.

    Mr. Uzoagba said, “Last time, at about 3 pm, a man lost his N860, 000 (Eight Hundred and sixty Thousand Naira), with a gun, the man ran helter sketcher to no avail.

    “Another person was shut on the lower part of his abdomen, and everything he had was taken away from him.

    “At times these hoodlums will divert vehicles into the timber market in pretence that they have some items to carry, but they will end up robbing them of all their possession. Different kinds of crimes are going on there unhindered.” He stated

    He recommended the use of stiffer security measures by the Joint Military Task Force(JTF), or the SARS, to check their activities and revive their business, insisting that the police have disappointed them.

    “What we actually need there is the JTF or pure Military personnel. If they deploy either Mile one or Iloabuchi Policemen to the area nothing will change because, they know one another and this boys are paying tolls to them (the Police).

    They gave insight on the collaborative activities of the boys and the Police and said, “every evening, anyone around could notice the Police going to the water side, the boys Inn, to collect their share for the days job, it is not an allegation against the Police, but a fact.” they insisted.

    the Chairman said his groups made efforts in assisting the security agents to eradicate the area of crimes.

    “As part of our efforts to raid the area of this activities, last year, I went and made a formal report to the office of the State Security Services (SSS), sent in a petition and took them round different parts of this areas, they came and made some arrests that time but nothing more was heard of it, but the situation now is worse and frightening, especially as the December period is approaching.

    Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Chairman Federated Timber Dealers Association, comprising Ikwuato, Iloabuchi, Echue and Eagle Island Timber Markets all in the same area, corroborated the stories of his colleagues and said, “The activities of these hoodlums in the area have sacked us from our businesses. Our customers have run away, they operate round the clock and daily.”

    He expressed concern on possible increase in crime in the Garden city and the state generally if the situation was not brought under control and the markets shut down.

    Mr. Emmanuel Agigbie, a lawyer, expressed the hope on the professionalism of CP Mbu in handling the situation and appealed to him to take note of what is happening in the state and address it as soon as possible.

    “It is trite in every society that you cannot eliminate crime hundred per cent in any place. But our appeal is that crime should be reduced to a minimum bearing so people could be relieved from trauma and anxiety.

    “As I said earlier, CP Mbu has an antecedent, he had worked in other states before coming to this state. Being a CP, I believe he is a professional in security and security matters. I think as the head of security, until he is briefed he wouldn’t know exactly what is going on somewhere.

    “The issue here I believe is that the CP’s men, who are in the field are not doing what they ought to do, and I think they should be changed.

    Reacting to the situation, the Police spokesperson, Mohammade Ahmed, expressed ignorance about the events at the area and invited the people to a meeting. He promised to ensure the situation was addressed and peace and normalcy restored to the area.

  • 28 ‘kidnappers’ held in Imo

    The police in Imo State yesterday paraded 28 suspected kidnappers.

    Also paraded was a fake female pastor, who allegedly runs a criminal syndicate that defrauds people by proffering spiritual solutions to their problems.

    Among the suspected kidnappers was a four-man gang that abducted an 85-year-old man, Chief Abel Anyiam.

    Narrating his ordeal, Anyiam said he was relaxing in his house at Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State around 9pm when his electricity supply was cut off.

    He said: “It was unusual for my power generating set to continue working while there was no electricity in the house, so I told my gateman to go and found out what was wrong. A few minutes later, two men accompanied him into my living room and asked me for money. I told them I did not have money, so they ordered me into my car. They covered my face with a cloth and drove me away.”

    Anyiam said the kidnappers blindfolded his wife and son and tied them up in his living room before abducting him.

    He said the hoodlums drove him to a bush where they contacted his family and demanded N10 million ransom.

    Acting on a tip-off, the police rounded up the kidnappers at their hideout and rescued the victim after he had paid N2 million ransom.

    Ccommissioner of Police Mohammed Katsina said an unregistered Nissan Primera car, Assault rifles, Indian hemp, cocaine and N1 million was recovered from the gang.

  • Three kidnappers get life in Edo

    Three persons have been jailed for life by an Edo State High Court (Criminal Division) sitting in Benin City for kidnapping Esohe Eguavoen.

    The convicts are Iriagbonse Osunde, Henry Okonofua and Obinna Nwoha.

    They were prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of Edo State under the old Kidnapping Prohibition Law (2009) of Edo State.

    The convicts, who were said to have committed the crime in 2009, pleaded not guilty.

    But the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    This sentence is happening after Governor Adams Oshiomhole signed into law the Anti-kidnapping Law 2013, which prescribes death penalty for kidnappers.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Henry Idahagbon said the conviction signified a new direction in the war against kidnapping.

    “Edo State government is tackling kidnapping, although it is not in charge of the police force and other security agencies. This conviction represents a major achievement in the war against kidnapping and we will be most happy to see it being given as much media coverage as you people do whenever a person is kidnapped. “Considering that the accused were convicted under the old law, I can tell you that it will not be business as usual again in Edo State as far as kidnapping and other crimes are concerned.”

     

  • What does a kidnapper deserve?

    What does a kidnapper deserve?

    As state governments take stern measures to stem the spate of kidnapping in their domains, EDOZIE UDEZE reports on lack of consensus as to the punishment that fits the crime.

    LEGAL practitioner, Udo Udoamaka, says state governors should be more careful in assenting to laws that have to do with human life. “In as much as kidnapping is a criminal act, one should not take life: life is sacred. For me, applying a life term for convicts is better. If there is the need to go all out to rout them wherever they are, cripple their means of livelihood and then sentence them to life jail. That will serve as a better lesson to them and their ilk.”

    As for Chijioke Uwasomba, a university lecturer, since kidnappers are like armed robbers who kill and have no regard for human life, they deserve whatever fate awaits them when caught. He said: “Kidnappers, maim, extort and kill without mercy. Some may argue that death penalty may not be a deferent but I disagree,”

    Human rights, he says, is reciprocal. “Indeed the brazenness with which kidnappers operate is so daring that anybody that appears to be in their way is given the maximum punishment.”

    Uwasomba referred to Aba, Abia State’s commercial nerve center, which became a hot bed of kidnappers a few years ago. The situation forced many residents to relocate while others stayed away from the city when the heat became too much.

    “At a point in Aba it became a thriving industry until the military intervened to restore order. Therefore, beyond the promulgation of death penalty, government should create conditions that will make kidnapping and allied criminal activities unattractive and impossible. By creating jobs and implementing policies that address the needs and welfare of the citizenry, the youths will be kept busy,” he said.

    Denja Abdullahi, vice-president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), submitted that the rate of kidnapping has become alarming and, therefore. “This is the time to take drastic measures to curb it. Death sentence for kidnapping is good. Death is not out of place because some of these kidnappers have been known to kill their victims, whether ransom gets paid or not”.

    Abdullahi argues that a capital crime against the state deserves commensurate punishment. “There must be adequate punishment for a crime committed in order for it to serve as deterrence. No matter what human rights activists say, we have gotten to a stage where immediate and drastic measures are necessary to checkmate impunity and all sorts of criminality masquerading as causes.”

    Professor Gbemisola Adeoti of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, while agreeing that state governments have the right to make laws to guarantee sanity in their states draws the line at death sentences.

    “I am not in support of capital punishment. But if it will serve as a deterrent, then let it be. Otherwise, my preference is that anyone convicted of kidnapping should be sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour and no option of fine.”

  • Oshiomhole, kidnappers and death penalty

    Oshiomhole, kidnappers and death penalty

    At exactly 2.50 pm on Friday, October 18, a tough decision was taken in Edo State as the Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole signed into law a bill passed by the state House of Assembly which prescribes the death penalty for kidnapping in any form. The law, otherwise known as the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2009 (as amended) also prescribes the demolition of any property (house/hotel)used by the kidnappers as their operational base to keep their victims.

    A drastic ailment, they say, requires a drastic treatment. This was probably why Edo State government had to do something drastic by prescribing capital punishment for those found guilty of kidnapping.

    Kidnapping of persons in the state has become so embarrassing to the extent that it seems like a major alternative source of cheap money for the jobless criminally minded ones. It also made it look as if there were no security agencies in the state. The kidnappers have become so daring to the extent that it is no longer safe to move on the streets in Benin metropolis let alone intercity movements.

    The government had to rekindle confidence in the people of its ability to protect lives and property in the state and that it’s not just in government, but in power with the strong political will to check crimes and criminality so that the citizens can move around freely and go to bed with their eyes closed. The governor made it crystal clear that he will not hesitate to sign the execution warrant of any kidnapper tried and convicted by the court of law.

    Hear him: “I want to assure the good people of Edo State that government is concerned about the state of kidnapping. We share the pains, the agony and trauma which victims of kidnap are all subjected to, but I assure our people that everything is being done to keep these criminals in check.”

    Edo is probably the first of the 36 states in the federation to sign a law prescribing capital punishment for kidnapping. Delta State House of Assembly passed similar law, unfortunately, the bill is gathering dust on the table of the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan,, apparently lacking the political will to sign it into law. Yet, the people of Delta State groan daily under the terror of kidnappers. Without mincing words, I believe Comrade Adams Oshiomhole deserves an applause for his uncommon courage and guts to dare these hoodlums by appending his signature to the law passed by the state House of Assembly. That is the hallmark of leadership, the ability and political will to take decision for the common good of the majority, no matter how unpalatable it may be to the minority in certain quarters.

    Oshiomhole has bluntly refused to give a dime as ransom to kidnappers in the state. Severally, government functionaries and his political party officials had fallen into the hands of kidnappers. He refused to yield to pressure to use government money as ransom for their freedom. I hear some state governments in the Niger Delta region set aside some money in the region of 20 million naira from their monthly security vote to appease these hoodlums called kidnappers. Again, I hear that the Comrade Governor has rebuffed them and refused to be part of the dirty deal. What a rare courage! For this, I beg to vote him my Man of The Year 2013!

    It would be recalled that the coalition of civil societies in Nigeria, the Amnesty International and other holier-than-thou foreign bodies were raising dust earlier in the year when Oshiomhole set aside all sentiments and dared to sign the death warrant of some armed robbers who robbed, raped and killed their victims in the state.

    He also scored the first in that regard as the governor of the 36 in the federation to sign the death warrant of robbers tried and condemned by a competent court of law. He however gave reprieve to those who robbed with violence but did not kill their victims by commuting their sentences to life jail. Not just that, in furtherance exercising his powers of prerogative of mercy, he freed one of the condemned robbers and directed that he be given some money to set up business of his choice.

    This is to prove the point that Oshiomhole is not one who delights in shedding blood through the instrumentality of government. This assertion is supported with what he was quoted to have said while signing into law the anti-kidnapping bill. “Having signed into law the death penalty, let me assure the good people of Edo State that as reluctant as one wants to be in matter of life and death, I am convinced that the overriding public interest dictates that we invoke the maximum penalty available in our law on those involved in the act of kidnapping”.

    Recently, the Chief Justice of Federation had cause to cry out that the nation’s prisons were brimming with criminals, apparently, a good number of them are condemned criminals awaiting the hangman. Again, unfortunately though,it boils down to the fact that the state governors are shying away from their responsibility of signing the death warrants brought before them. It is therefore not surprising that cases of jailbreak are now common occurrences across the states leaving in their trails deaths and maiming of hapless prisons officials who dare to show some form of bravery. These hardened criminals will feed fat on government’s lean resources, break

    lose, with all the energy in them, unleash mayhem on the society with vexation. In some cases, they go straight for the jugular of the IPO/prosecuting counsel and the trial judge(s).

    It is therefore in this light that all well meaning and peace loving Nigerians should salute this rare courage displayed by Edo State governor, Comrade Oshiomhole. As the society is becoming more complex and the criminals are devising more sophisticated means of carrying out their criminality, Nigeria needs leaders with strong character, guts and uncommon courage for taking decisions, especially for the common good.

    This is food for thought as we approach the year 2015.

     

    • Musa is a public affairs commentator based in Auchi, Edo State

  • Kidnappers of Osun Speaker’s wife get 27 years jail term

    An Osun State High Court, sitting in Iwo, yesterday sentenced five persons to 27 years imprisonment for kidnapping Alhaja Muibat Salaam, wife of Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam.

    Chukwudi Okereke (40), Ogbole Ochijile Elijah (25), Okonkwo Lucky (33), Kaikine Mahah (35) and Nwadinnor Philip (30), at gun point, kidnapped Alhaja Salaam on October 9, last year, around 8pm at Oke-Oyo road in Ejigbo.

    The families of the convicts wept uncontrollably after the judgment.

    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adewale Afolabi, who led the prosecution team, told the court that the convicts confessed to the crime.

    Explaining that the prosecution proved its case beyond doubt, Justice Moshood Adeigbe said: “The confessional statements were clear that the accused met at the Royal Hotel in Agbor, Delta State, where they planned the kidnap, perfected it in Lagos and carried it out in Ejigbo.

    The exhibits also showed that the accused kidnapped Mrs. Salaam, forced her into a trailer and dragged her into the bush. They were on their way to Lagos when policemen arrested them in Ogun State. The prosecution established its case and found the accused guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.”

    Defence counsel Sam George and Fredrick Komolafe prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the accused were married with children.

    Justice Adeigbe said the accused deserved the full punishment for the offence, which he described as “heartless”.

    He sentenced the accused to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy, 10 years for kidnapping and 10 years for unlawful possession of fire arms.

    The terms will run concurrently.

     

     

     

     

  • Douglas’ family worried over kidnappers’ silence

    Members of the Presidential Adviser on Research and Documentation Oronto Douglas, family are waiting for one telephone call – from the kidnappers of his sister. There was anxiety in the family yesterday, three days after the 48-year old woman, Augusta Douglas-Ayam, was abducted by an unknown gang. The family is worried by the silence of the abductors. The development has thrown the family and residents of Bayelsa State into confusion. They are trying to find out the motive of the gunmen. While some attribute the criminal act to the protracted kingship tussle in Agrisaba, the maternal community of the Douglas, others believe she was kidnapped for ransom. A family member, Chief Awudulu Douglas, and other chiefs from Agrisaba raised the alarm that their lives were in danger for opposing the installation of a new king. Mrs. Douglas-Ayam was matched and taken to an unknown area in the creeks by nine gunmen dressed in army uniform. The assailants, who operated on a black speedboat, abducted the woman at the Ogbia waterside about 8:45pm on Monday after shooting into the air. Three days have passed with neither a word from the suspected kidnappers, nor from the victim. The victim was allegedly kidnapped without her mobile phone. But a top security source said it was the practice of kidnappers to keep their victim’s family in suspense for two or three days. “There is no cause for alarm. Normally, it takes the bandits two or three days to secure their location before contacting the family of their victim. They will surely call,” the source, who pleaded for anonymity, said. The family, in a one-page appeal, implored the kidnappers to free the victim on humanitarian grounds. The family, in the statement signed on their behalf by Douglas Romeo, said they were worried about the victim’s health. “As a family, we are concerned and worried about the development, especially considering her poor health. Augusta Douglas- Ayam visited the hospital a few days ago over her health challenges. “We appeal to the kidnappers to release her unconditionally on humanitarian grounds. The kidnap of our daughter has increased our pains as a family still mourning. “We hope and pray that the kidnappers will give her the best treatment. “We also hope they will have a rethink and release her to reunite with her family,” the statement said. The family hoped that the security agents handling the matter would do so in a professional way to unravel the mystery behind her abduction. “We have given the necessary details and information to the security agencies to aid their investigation. We believe they are up to the task and are counting on their expertise. “We urge the public to avail the security agencies and the family of any information it may have concerning this matter. “As a family, we have received goodwill from Nigerians in our moment of trial. We are grateful for the demonstration of concern, solidarity and prayers. “We pray that God will reward you all. Her abductors have not made any contact with the family. But we are united in our supplication to GOD for divine intervention. “We enjoin the public not to relent in their prayers for her release. We implore those holding her to release her, considering her health and the pains we are undergoing,” the family said.

  • I thought I was going to be shot the day my abductors released me —Archbishop Kattey

    I thought I was going to be shot the day my abductors released me —Archbishop Kattey

    RELEASED after nine days in kidnappers’ den, the Dean of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, has relived his experience in the hands of his abductors, who he said gave him the N200 with which he rode home on commercial motorcycle popularly called okada. Kattey, who said he had forgiven his abductors, also said he started falling in love with the young men that captured him after two days in their custody.

    The clergyman, who was briefing reporters at his private residence at Alode-Eleme, Rivers State, also blamed the rising wave of crime in the country on poor parenting. He said the kidnappers knew that he was a man of God, but because they did not have good upbringing, they had no respect for his position.

    He said from his observations, his abductors, one of whom was about 22 years old, were able bodied young men, and some of them were well educated but had no jobs.

    Identifying bad parenting as the cause of the kidnappers’ action, he urged governments at all levels to provide jobs for Nigerian youths, provide development for the people and, as matter of urgency, review the security situation of the country.

    Kattey, who regained his freedom after nine days in captivity, faulted the Rivers State Police Command’s claim that they rescued him from his captors. It will be recalled that he was abducted with his wife, Beatrice, at about 10 pm on September 6, 2013 at Aleto, Eleme on their way to Port Harcourt. But his wife was released the same night while the abductors fled with the clergyman.

    Reacting to the release of the Archbishop, Angela Agabe, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said it was the police that rescued him.

    But this claim by the police did not go down well with Kattey who told reporters that his kidnappers released him on their own, attributing his release to divine intervention because he knew people were praying for his freedom all over the world.

    Kattey said: “The police did not rescue me. They did not rescue my wife. I saw the police for the first time two days ago (Monday). I told the Commissioner of Police that his PRO was telling lies. And if the police would not tell the truth, who would tell the truth?”

    He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, had apologised to him for the lies PPRO told about his release.

    He, however, acknowledged that efforts were made by security agencies to secure his release, as he saw helicopters hovering over the forest where he was kept by his abductors for about 500 times but could not see him.

    He said it would have been very difficult for the search party to find him, as he was kept in a very thick forest and asked to lie down most of the time. He also said his kidnappers kept moving him from place to place because they sensed that the local hunters and their dogs were sniffing around for him.

    According to him, there was a time the hunters’ dogs came close to where he was being kept in the bush, but his captors told him to keep his mouth shut so that they would not be detected. He said he would have made some noise if he knew that he was the one they were looking for.

    For this reason, he said, they started moving him from one place to another, sometimes blindfolded, chained or tied and made to sleep in his cassock in the rain and water.

    He said: “I was not tortured, but I was under difficult conditions. I slept outside in the rain and sun with my cassock. I didn’t have my bath for all those days. I was in the forest and was moved from place to place. Feeding was once a day. At times, I was given sachet water. At times it was fast food and other times boli (roast plantain). I was left in the rain and had to lie down in a pool of water because I could not stand all through the night. I wore the same cassock, rain or shine.”

    The 65 year-old Anglican Archbishop also said he was not aware of any ransom paid on his behalf, adding that he could not have paid any ransom as he had no access to his bank during the period.

    He also said that his freedom was an act of God, because the kidnappers sometimes argued over his continued stay with them in the bush until they finally made up their minds to free him.

    Recalling how he was released, he said: “On Thursday evening, one of the persons who had watched over me told one man that was with him that they should release me. He said I had stayed long. The other man got furious and threatened to shoot him for asking that I should be released. ‘What has this man given to you that you want to release him?’ he asked his partner.

    “That night, they moved me to another place and we stayed from morning till night. Then one man came and said, ‘This man will go now o!’ I thought they wanted to shoot me. I didn’t say anything. One of them, who was engaged in a phone call, said they should hold on.

    “After a while, they asked me to follow them and make sure I didn’t talk to anybody. We kept moving until they stopped a commercial motorcycle (okada) and asked me to climb it. They actually gave me N200 to pay for the fare… I don’t know what actually happened, but I believe that God touched their hearts.”

    On whether his abductors gave him any message to government, Kattey said: “They did not give me any message to deliver to anybody. But in the bush, I asked them why they were doing this to me? They said the government and the society forced them into what they were doing because most of them were graduates but had nothing else to do.

    “I understand that the police have arrested some persons, but they are not among the persons I saw in the bush. The police are holding the wrong persons and should release them. I told the commissioner of police. The real people are in the bush.”

    Kattey also said: “May we appeal to the federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency review the security situation in our dear country Nigeria? May we also urge the leaders, especially the political class, to be sensitive to the plight of the governed by providing the basic responsibilities of government to her citizens? If this is done, we believe governments would have been able to put in place strict measures that will not allow crime to breed unchecked and unreprimanded in our nation.”

    It was not possible to reach the wife of the Archbishop, Beatrice, or any of his children, most of who were abroad during the press conference. But when Governor Chibuike Amaechi paid a visit to her while her husband was in captivity, she prayed for God’s intervention and unconditional release of her husband by the kidnappers.

    “My husband is a man of God who preaches peace. He believes in God and wherever he is, God is with him. We are sure he will be well. But he should be released,” Beatrice said.

    The wife of the Anglican Bishop also expressed regrets over the security lapses in the state and called for serious concern and attention to avert future re-occurrences.

    Also speaking during the visit, the Chancellor of the Diocese of the North, Sir Emeka Ichioku, in his vote of thanks, expressed confidence that Kattey would return to his family hail and healthy.

    The Chairman of Clergy Association of the Diocese of the Anglican Communion of Niger Delta North, Venerable Richard Okpara, also offered prayers for the family of the Archbishop and prayed for God’s intervention for his unconditional release.

    Amaechi, who was represented at the sympathy visit by the Secretary to the State Government, George Feyii, enjoined Christian religious leaders to intensify prayers for unconditional release of Kattey.

    He said, his administration was doing everything humanly possible to ensure the unconditional release of Archbishop Kattey.

    The governor said: “This administration wants to assure you that it identifies with this family because the kidnap of the Archbishop is a very serious matter, and it has compelled us to identify with the family. And right now, everything is on track to ensure that Kattey returns to continue his assignment with God.

    The governor further appealed to the kidnappers to urgently effect his release to enable him continue his ecclesiastical call to the service of God and humanity, which he stressed is for the benefit of all Nigerians and betterment of the society.

    Also reacting to the travails of Kattey in the hands of the kidnappers, Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, charged Nigerians to see it as a wake-up call, insisting that the country can no longer afford to play with the issue of security.

    Abe also disclosed that joblessness and financial challenges should not be used as excuses for indulging in kidnapping and armed robbery.

    He said: “I just want to use this opportunity to thank the Christian faithful across the country. Every Christian in this country showed concern. So I thank all of us for what God has done and to say that this actually is a wake-up call for us as a country. We can no longer afford to play with the issue of security.

    “This is a servant of God. This is a leader of the church. This is an Anglican priest. This is a known character in this state and country, highly respected, and then little boys will just come, drag him around the way they did?”

    While the Archbishop said that he had forgiven his abductors, Abe declared: “It is totally unacceptable and we must condemn it without reservation. My Lord, when we catch them, the issue of forgiving them will arise. But we must look for them and we will never stop looking for them.”