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Tag: Kidnapping

  • Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    The  Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, is seeking divine intervention to tackle kidnapping, militancy, killing, oil bunkering and other crimes in his constituency.

    The Nation learnt that Benson, who represents Southern Ijaw 4, was worried by these vices  and had hired clerics to heal his constituency.

    He was said to have contacted Rev. Uma Ukpai to lead other clerics to his local government for a three-day crusade to discourage people from crimes.

    Benson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Aotendeike Boloigha, said the crusade was organised to improve his community.

    The Speaker, who addressed heads of clans, paramount rulers and chairmen of community development committees (CDC), said it was unacceptable for a community, hitherto known for peace and good neighbourliness, to assume a negative identity.

    He said: “Travelling to our once very peaceful environment is now done with the presence of heavily armed military men. Traditional and social functions are not left out.”

    The Chairman of Central Planning Committee and General Overseer, Doxa Family Church, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, said the programme was timely, adding that it is time for the people to come together.

    He urged every family to participate, saying the Bishop of Ogbia Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Aye-Oruwori is among those expected at the crusade.

    King Timi-Ododo, paramount ruler of Ikebiri I community, who spoke for the monarchs, described the Speaker as a leader who identifies with the people.

    Pastor Job Molo, the CDC chairman of Azuzuama community, on behalf of his counterparts from other communities, said they would mobilise people to the crusade.

  • Police arrest kidnapper, recover arms in Zamfara

    Police arrest kidnapper, recover arms in Zamfara

    The Police Command in Zamfara has arrested a suspected kidnapper and cattle rustler, Musa Abdullahi a.k.a Gaugai, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammad Shehu, has said.

    Shehu disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday.

    He said the arrest was part of the command’s sustained efforts to rid the state of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities.

    “The suspect was arrested on January 1 by the Anti kidnapping Squad of the command on Operation Sharar Daji around Kunkeli and Chabi villages in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

    Read also: Police arrest 16 ‘vicious’ kidnapping, armed robbery gang

    “One Ak47 Riffle with five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect,” he said

    Reports say that the suspect is believed to be one of the members of a kidnap gang terrorising the state who had been declared wanted by the police.

    Shehu further said that the suspect was assisting the command to fish out other members of the gang.

    “The suspect would be charged to court as soon as the command completes its investigation,” the police spokesman added.

    He urged members of the public to always report any suspicious persons or movement around them to the nearest security outpost.

    NAN

  • Police arrest four Fulani Herdsmen in Ondo

    Police arrest four Fulani Herdsmen in Ondo

    Police in Ondo State have arrested four Fulani herdsmen in Ido Ani community, Ose Local Government Area of the state over alleged abduction of a wife of a fellow Fulani man identified as Hadiza Saliu.

    The suspects were also alleged to have earlier abducted a son of another Fulani herdsman in the community but the boy was said to have released after a ransom was paid by his father.

    State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph said the suspects were arrested last Friday.

    They are: Adamu Ibrahim, Muhammadu Haruna, Saliu Bawa and Bashir Ibrahim.

    Joseph explained that the suspects had confessed to be part of the kidnapping gang who carried out their ‘operations’ at the Akoko area of the state in the recent time.

    He said “One Mohammed Gambo came to report to us that the kidnappers abducted his son and he paid a sum of N200, 000 before the boy was released but he did not inform the police before making arrangement with the abductors, it was after the boy was released that he reported to us.

    “The same persons abducted another women, Hadiza Saliu on December 13, 2017. As they were demanding ransom from the husband of the woman, the victim ran away. So after the victim had escaped the abductors started calling the husband to demand ransom.

    “After reporting to us, we asked them to provide the money (ransom) and our men with some local vigilante groups laid ambush for the kidnappers who later came and pick up the money.”

    The PPRO said one of the suspects; Adamu was arrested when he got out of the bush to pick up the money, adding that it was after his arrest that the police discovered that the same kidnap group was responsible for the abduction of the son of Gambo who had earlier reported to the police.

    He said suspected Kidnappers confessed that most of the kidnapping incident that happened in the Akoko area were carried out by them, adding that they would soon appear in court.

  • Police parades 29 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery

    Police parades 29 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery

    The Police Friday paraded 29 suspects for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, car snatching and kidnapping.

    The suspects who belong to three different gangs operate in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau States.

    The Police said the arrest was done within a week by the Special Tactical Squad personnel of the Force.

    The suspects who were paraded on Friday in Tafa, Niger State include; Salisu Bello, Yusuf Alhaji Adamu, Aliyu Ahmed, Eli jahat Pam, Hassan Salisu, Olawale Ariyo, and  Dauda Garuba.

    Items recovered from them are: one Kia SUV Car, one Mercedes car, four Flat screen television, anti-car tracking device, and several arms and ammunition.

    One of the suspects, Bello Salisu specializes in using army uniform and different number plates as decoy to beat security checks on the highway.

    Salisu, a retired Sergeant from the Army uses the uniform to snatch vehicles and also use it beat security checks.

    Salisu said he was in the Army for 16 years and after retirement,  he decided to start snatching cars from people.

    Some of the number plates recovered from him had Army registration numbers, Defence registration numbers, and Federal government registration number.

    The police disclosed that Salisu uses the rank of a Major and Seargent as occasion demands to deceive people.

    Breifing Journalists on the operation of the  suspects and how they were arrested, the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood said: “Cases of kidnapping have reduced on the highway and in the last one week, we were able to arrest 29 suspects who specialize in car snatching,  kidnapping and armed robbery and other forms of crimes on our major highways.

    On ow Salisu operates, the Force Spokesman said: “He is a car snatcher and they have different number plates to make their movement easy.

    “He admitted to snatching over ten cars between the northern and southern states of the country.

    Also speaking, Salisu who said he retired from the Army in 2012 added that the Army did not de-kit him after his retirement.

    On how he got the number plates, he said: “They are fake and I usually meet an artist in Ogun State to help me with it. I use the number plate most times to beat Customs and other checks.”

    Moshood said that the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

  • Ekiti community gets Army base to tackle robbery, kidnapping

    Ekiti community gets Army base to tackle robbery, kidnapping

    The Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, yesterday said his community is enjoying peace with the deployment of soldiers in the area to tackle armed robbery and other violent crimes in the past one year.

    The monarch said the community is building an Army base to show appreciation and encourage the soldiers, who he said had kept robbers and kidnappers at bay.

    Oba Ilori-Faboro addressed reporters at his palace on activities marking this year’s Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu Festival, which reached a climax on Saturday with the launch of N250 million development fund.

    The first-class monarch said the foundation of the Army base had been laid, adding that it would be completed in six months.

    He said the project would be funded with cash to be raised during Ajodun Ido.

    Oba Ilori-Faboro said the soldiers had been working in collaboration with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local hunters to conduct a “show of force” as a warning to potential criminals.

    He urged indigenes of the town within and outside the country to come home and contribute their quota to the development of their community assuring them of their security during the festival.

    Chairman of the Planning Committee Mr. Sola Ogunsina said the festival had assisted the community to execute many development projects without government support.

    He added that other activities lined up for Ajodun Ido include environmental sanitation, inter-school debate, a free health services for indigenes, widows’ empowerment, a marathon race, a football competition, stage play on Kiriji War, homage to the Olojudo and cultural competition.

     

     

  • Two remanded in custody for ‘kidnapping’

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded two kidnap suspects in prison.

    Chinaza Anaele (21) and David Amadi (26) are being held for their alleged involvement in the kidnap of Mrs. Abigail Isaiah three months ago. They are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

    Mrs. Isaiah was reportedly kidnapped about 8.30pm on August 20, at Umuihe Igodo community in Etche Local Government Area.

    The two, and others on the run, allegedly carried out the crime. They allegedly imprisoned their victim and prevented her relatives from having access to her.

    According to the charge sheet, the offence contravenes Section 3 (B) (a) of the Rivers State Kidnap (prohibition) Laws No. 5 of 2015, Section 1 (1) (2) (b) of the Rivers State kidnap (prohibition) law No. 5 of 2015.

    Magistrate Amadi O. Amadi-Nna declined jurisdiction on the matter. He did not allow the suspects to take plea after the charge was read to them. He ordered that they be remanded in prison and that the case file be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    Magistrate Amadi-Nna adjourned the matter indefinitely.

  • ‘I kidnap my girlfriend to raise money for wedding’

    ‘I kidnap my girlfriend to raise money for wedding’

    A-24 year old man, Micheal Duda, has said that he kidnapped his teenage girlfriend identified as Victory Aseguah with the intention of raising money for their wedding.

    Micheal was paraded alongside 104 suspects arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, rape, armed robbery and cultism at the headquarters of the Edo Police Command.

    He said the girlfriend just finished secondary school and there was no way he could approached the parents that he want to marry their daughter.

    Speaking to newsmen Thursday, Micheal said he kept the girl in his house for four days and asked her father to pay him the sum of N2m.

    Micheal who said he sells dispensable cups admitted that he had sex with the girl all through the four days the girl spent in his house.

    “I live at Ekae community off Sapele road. She came to my house. We planned to collect money from her father to raise money for our marriage but I did not collect the money again. She stayed in my house for four days.

    “I couldn’t tell the father I want to marry his daughter. She said her father would not support the idea because she was yet to go to the university. She was with me for four days. The man said he has no money to pay. I was at home with the girl when police came and arrested me.”

    But Victory who was present at the parade said they met on facebook and after several days, she decided to visit him.

    Victory said she was surprised that the boy kidnapped her when she got there and heard that the boy demanded for N4m from her father.

    Elder sister of Victory, Rodha, said her sister was sexually abused before the police rescued her.

    On the alleged plans to get married, she laughed saying, “My sister is 16 years old and has never slept outside before. She told me they met on facebook and the boy professed love to her. When she went to the house, she said the boy hatched the plan and said he would collect N10,000 from our father but the boy demanded for N4m.

    “He will lock her inside the house and called us threatening that he will kill her if we did not pay. He took advantage of my sister’s condition.”

    “She told me the boy is 21 and a student but she later saw that it was a lie. We took her for treatment after the rescue.”

    Also, three suspects that allegedly killed Prof. Paul Otasowie of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in the University of Benin were paraded.

    Late Prof. Otasowie  was killed in October 4 at his residence at Evbuotubu area in Egor local government area.

    Names of the suspect were given as Osaze Oghogho, Best Ogumode and Happy Okoro.

    The suspects said they never intended to kill Prof. Otasowie but to collect his car and used it for armed robbery.

    They said he was mistakenly shot when he rushed at Osaze who was holding the gun.

    According to Osaze, “We decided to go for street robbery when we saw a vehicle driving out, so we decided to collect the car. I asked the man to give me the car keys but he threw the keys away. I shot into the air. As I was loading another bullet, the man embraced me and during the struggle, the gun exploded.”

    Speaking to newsmen, Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo , said the police suspects would soon be charged to court.

    He listed items recovered within three weeks included five AK 47 rifles, military weapons. 33 cut to size guns, motor-cycles, 90 live AK 47 ammunition, 234 live cartridges, assorted vehicles and the sum of N1.2m.

  • Cripple, seven others arrested for kidnapping, robbery

    Cripple, seven others arrested for kidnapping, robbery

    The Police have arrested a cripple and seven others for their alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching and other criminal activities.

    The suspects paraded include; Umaru Ibrahim Mujuma, Jibrin Adamu, Samaila Haruna, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ibrahim Idris, Iliya Adamu,  Ifeanyi  Linus, Silas Kelvin and Kamilu Mohammed.

    The police claimed that the Cripple, Kamilu Mohammed, serves as the informant to the Kidnappers.

    The group were said to be responsible for the murder of a youth leader; Haruna Maikudi Maikaji who was killed in his farm at Sabon Gayan Village in Kaduna State on Sunday.

    Items recovered from them include; One AK47 rifle, one locally made revolver pistol, two single barrel locally made gun, seven rounds of AK47 ammunition, one round of live cartridges  and two Toyota Corolla Vehicles.

    A statement in Abuja Tuesday by the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood reads: “In the course of investigation into the killing and the operation embarked by personnel of Operation Absolute Sanity in Sabon Gayan Village and environs to root out and arrest the killers of the Youth Leader, the Special Tactical Squad team attached to Operation Absolute Sanity on trail of the killers, were ambushed and attacked by the gang responsible for the killing of the Youth Leader.

    “The information to the Gang was traced to a Cripple, Kamilu Mohammed who phoned the Kidnappers to inform them that the Police are on their way to their hideout in the forest.

    “The Special Tactical Squad personnel attached to Operation Absolute Sanity repelled the attack and in the process, two of the suspected kidnappers died as a result of the superior fire power of the Police personnel.

    “The Cripple Kamilu Mohammed was later arrested and currently under investigation”.

    The police also noted that a Sergeant sustained injury and currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

    Moshood added that the suspects would be arraigned on completion of investigation into the cases against them.

  • Police parades 16 for robbery, kidnapping, car snatching

    Police parades 16 for robbery, kidnapping, car snatching

    The Police Thursday paraded 16 suspect for their involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching.

    The police said the suspects belong to four different gangs adding that they terrorise innocent motorists on Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja – Minna – Bida, Birnin Gwari – Funtua, and Abuja – Lokoja highways.

    The police also said some of the suspects use military uniforms as bait to get their victims.

    The suspects who were paraded in Sabon Wuse,  Niger State include: “Abdulkareem Isah, Mohammed Mustapha, Yunusa Mohammed, Ahmadu Musa, Bashir Yero, Abdullahi Mohammed, Tanko Isah, Usman Adamu.

    Others are: “Yakubu Suleiman, Usman Ibrahim, Ahmed Suleiman, Isah Suleiman, Abdulmalik Sadiq, Usman Bawa, Sani Ahmed, and Alex Egor.

    Some of the suspects were also said to be responsible for the murder of a policeman.

    Items recovered from them include two AK47 riffles, one  SMG OFN Mode 12 gun, one locally-made revolver pistol, three pump action guns, two berretta pistol, one air rifle, 85 rounds of 7.62X39mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 6 rounds of 380 Auto.

    Other items are: “Three live cartridges, five AK47 magazines, one fabricated master key, two Toyota Corolla car, one Toyota Muscle car, one technology phone,  two pairs of military camouflage uniform and a box of fake dollar currency.

    Speaking during the parade, the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood said: “On 6th of November, 2017, after a sustained surveillance and raid of the criminal hideouts and kidnappers den by the men of Operation Absolute Sanity comprising the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) raided identified kidnappers dens, camps, armed robbers and Car Snatchers in their camps, Black spots and Criminal hideouts in the forests located in the FCT, Niger and Kaduna States.

    “They successfully smashed four vicious and notorious gangs in the process arrested 16 suspects in the act of kidnapping and collection of ransom, car snatching and armed robbery.

    “All the suspects arrested confessed to the crime and admitted to the various roles they played in the commission of these capital offences.

    “They will be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation. Investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.”

    As part of preparations for the festive period, Moshood also noted that the IG has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and State commands across the country to beef up security in their area.

    “They are to ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide throughout this period to the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities and beyond.

    “They are also to make sure that detection of crimes that couldn’t be prevented is prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminal.”

  • Police arrest Jesu Oyingbo’s son for ‘defilement, kidnapping’

    Police arrest Jesu Oyingbo’s son for ‘defilement, kidnapping’

    One of the sons of the late self-proclaimed messiah, Jesu Oyingbo, Adebola Odumosu, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling a teenager.

    Odumosu is being held at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, where he allegedly admitted to having sex his lover’s niece.

    Trouble started for Odumosu last week after he allegedly leaked the information of the crime he committed some years ago to a United Kingdom-based blogger.

    The information was to spite his estranged lover, Folashade Olatunji, a business rival to the woman he leaked the information to.

    A police source said Odumosu allegedly committed the offence at Alakuko, when the victim was 14-year-old.

    Aside defiling her, it was gathered that he procured at least two abortions for the teenager before his lover’s family knew he was having unlawful intercourse with the victim.

    It was gathered that both families resolved to sweep the crime under carpet to save the teenager from stigmatisation, an agreement Odumosu allegedly broke after his relationship with Folashade failed.

    He was said to have resorted to blackmailing Folashade and extorting her. It was gathered that the suspect allegedly held the victim’s 87-year-old grandmother hostage at a flat rented by Folashade in Lagos and threatened to keep her locked up unless certain amount of money was paid.

    The source said: “The suspect is in our custody. He admitted to have had sexual relations with the girl who was a teenager at the time. The matter was reported at Alakuko Police Station but both families resolved to settle it quietly for the sake of the girl.

    “At that time, he was in a relationship with Folashade. They met on Facebook and started dating. He was in India and Folashade in United Kingdom (UK). I think Folashade moved to India and they were planning to get married.

    “Along the line, things did not work out and Folashade returned to the UK. They were planning to have introduction when disagreements started and they went their separate ways.

    “What angered Folashade’s family was that the suspect went ahead to leak information about the rape to a UK-based online medium. The owner of the medium is a rival to Folashade and she ran the story. The whole thing they were covering up became public and that was how Folashade wrote a petition to the Police Command and the suspect tracked.

    “He admitted that he had sex on several occasions with the teenager and that it was not rape because they both agreed to it. He forgot that sex with teenager was a crime under the law. He also admitted that the teenager had abortions for him. He denied leaking the information to the online medium but we have evidence that he was the one who did it.”

    Police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) said the suspect would be charged to court.