The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnapping

  • Kidnapping, killings: Something is wrong with our security system, says Onaiyekan

    The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan yesterday expressed fear over the rate at which people are kidnapped and killed along Abuja/Kaduna expressed way.

    With the development, Onaiyekan said something is defiantly wrong with the country’s security architecture.

    The clergy man said it is sad that Nigerians are now at the mercy of kidnappers who now carry out their nefarious activities and even demand ransom without fear.

    He spoke while briefing reporters on a conference scheduled to hold next week in Abuja on irregular migration of Nigerians.

    He accused government of not doing enough to tackle the menace adding that: “Government should work hard on the wellbeing of Nigerians. We just have to admit that we have not done well for ourselves. Which is why our home (Nigeria) is no longer our home.

    “I think it is a shame, we have 200 million people and we are been neglected. This is what we have when we neglect education. Our leaders are only taking care of themselves and their children.

    “If you have no idea of how to make Nigeria develop through education, security amongst others then do not go into politics. Unfortunately I cannot say that they should not ask for my vote because they now do not ask for my vote they take it by force. Politics is for people who will organize things for us all.  “This kidnapping issue happened on Kabba road some years back. I could not travel then. I could not understand that 30 kilometres of road cannot be policed. And they are small boys. When government decided to do something then especially when many of the big men were kidnapped. They tackled the menace.

    ” The government and police have told us several times that they have put up high level security checks and that they have cleared Abuja/Kaduna road and the boys have come up and said that they are still operating on the road.  But why is that possible because there is something wrong with the security apparatus of this country. It should not happen that kidnapping has now become a regular business on our high ways. It doesn’t happen in any civilized country.

    “It is sad that the kidnappers operate regularly on the high way and demand ransom and not only that they go to the extent of collecting the ransom. And in all these process there is a government that is not able to do something. We just can’t understand. It just gives you the very sad impression that we are really at the mercy of the criminals. So you get ready to pay them to beg them. This is not the way to live. ”

     

     

  • Police nab three suspects for kidnapping, robbery

    The Police Command in Cross River has arrested two suspected kidnappers and one armed robbery suspect in Calabar, the state capital.

    Spokesperson Irene Ugbo made the remark in a statement she signed and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Calabar.

    She said the suspects were arrested for attempting to abduct the State Security Adviser, Mr. Ani Esin, on March 12 in Calabar.

    Ugbo said the suspects were arrested in Calabar by men of the Anti-Cultism/Kidnapping Squad of the police.

    “The suspects are Thomson Emmanuel-Bassey and Prince Out. Investigation is still ongoing to unravel the cause of their action and their accomplices brought to book,” she said.

    The spokesperson said the command also received a distress call over a robbery at 8 Miles area in Calabar, adding that detectives were quickly dispatched to the area.

    “In a bid to evade arrest, the suspect attempted to disarm the inspector who led the team and in the process, the inspector sustained bullet wounds, while the suspect was injured in his leg.

    “We recovered a revolver pistol and live ammunition in his possession. The suspect is giving useful information to the police.

    “Investigation is being intensified to arrest other fleeing gang members to face the full wrath of the law,” Ugbo said.

  • Community protests incessant kidnapping

    RESIDENTS of Nariya Community, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, yesterday came out in large number to protest the kidnapping of two pregnant women and three others.

    The protesters blocked the busy Nnamdi Azikwe Express Way (Western By-pass) in the morning to show their anger.

    The protesters said kidnapping has now become a daily routine in the community as kidnappers operate with impunity.

    The Nation gathered that the protest was prompted by the abduction of two pregnant women and three men in their respective houses around 2:00a.m. yesterday.

    One of the protesters, who craved anonymity, said he saw the kidnappers with guns.

    “I saw them with guns because they attacked my neighbours’ house and took away two pregnant women, other women from another house and a man. We are tired of kidnappers operating freely in the community.

    “We are only blocking the road to draw the attention of the government to our plight. We want the governor to come to our aid,” he said.

    The protesters were dispersed by policemen and the road cleared for traffic.

  • How we collected N5m ransom for Lagos Fire Service boss, by suspect

    One of the suspects arrested for kidnapping Lagos Fire Service Director Rasaki Musibau has said the gang collected N5million ransom for his release.

    Blessing Boyo, 29, told reporters that the gang leader identified simply as MK who’s still at large, had told them the money brought was N5million and that he would share it when they returned to base.

    Boyo was paraded alongside Smart Alfred Thursday evening by Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu.

    Narrating how they kidnapped Musibau and six others around 8pm on April 6, Boyo said they used timbers to block the road before ambushing their victims.

    He said the four guns used for the operation were brought by MK who allegedly lured him into kidnapping.

    Boyo said: “MK called me for the operation. He had guys in the bush. He brought out guns and said it was kidnapping work. I have not kidnapped before. I used to carry timber with an operator.

    “We blocked the road with woods, stopped vehicles and kidnapped them. We had four guns and it was MK that brought it. I have not been given any money. He said we should return to base first. It was MK that was with the money. He told us that the money was N5million.

    “My first time in Lagos was on April 5. I am from Arogbo in Ondo State. We did not beat the man. We took the man to the bush. He was fed cooked food. MK’s boys cooked Egusi and Eba and the one was served.”

    Corroborating Boyo’s statement, Alfred, also a native of Arogbo in Ondo State said they followed MK because he fooled them he was a timbre operator and needed carriers.

    He said it was when they got to the bush that he told them it was kidnapping job and since he was jobless, he joined him.

    “The guy told us to follow him to do carrier work since we were jobless at the time. He approached us because he knows we are into carrier work. I followed him to the bush because i believed it was carrier work.

    “I did not understand what he meant. He showed us guns and said this is the work he is into. I asked if he wanted to kill me and he said he will show me how he does the work. As we got to where we wanted to operate, he cut a wood and blocked the road. MK fled when police arrested us,” he said.

    Muazu told reporters that the suspects were arrested on April 10 at about 5:30am at Ibafun alomg Ikorodu-Ijebu Ode Expressway, a boundary community with Ogun.

    According to the police chief, all kidnapped victims regained their freedom following a sustained and well-coordinated operation by the command’s Tactical Anti-kidnapping unit.

    “They all confessed to the commission of the crime. Two single barrel guns were recovered from the suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” Muazu said.

  • Three arrested for allegedly kidnapping Channels TV’s reporter

    The Nigeria Police said it has arrested three suspects involved in the alleged kidnap of Channels TV’s reporter, Friday Okeregbe.

    He was kidnapped in Lugbe, Abuja, on March 22 while trying to park his car.

    Although it was unclear last night whether the reporter’s family paid ransom before his release, the kidnappers demanded N50million ransom.

    The suspects are Hanniel Patrick, male, 29, from Akwa Ibom State, Abdulwahab Isah, male, 28, and Salisu Mohammed, male, 32, both from Kogi State.

    A statement in Abuja yesterday by Force spokesman Frank Mba said investigation showed that Okeregbe was not the target.

    Details of how the arrest was made read: “In line with the IGP’s commitment to curb crimes, especially kidnapping, operatives attached to ‘Operation Puff Adder’, acting on intelligence report, on April 9, about 6:30am, arrested three persons involved in the kidnap of Channels TV’s reporter, Mr. Friday Okeregbe.

    “The suspects: Hanniel Patrick, male, 29, from Akwa Ibom State, Abdulwahab Isah, male, 28, and Salisu Mohammed, male, 32, both from Kogi State, have made statements to the police.

    “Investigation shows that Okeregbe was not originally the target of the criminals.

    “However, on that fateful day, March 22, at 07:45pm, he was kidnapped when the kidnappers saw him parking his vehicle at a location in Lugbe, Abuja.

    “Investigation further reveals that the victim was taken to the kidnappers’ den somewhere in Karimo, Abuja and kept incommunicado.”

    Mba said a locally-made revolver gun, three live AK47 ammunition, an axe, phones and masks with which they blindfold their victims, were recovered from them.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, said the police and other security agencies were doing everything to tame kidnapping and other crimes across the country, adding that efforts were being intensified to arrest other members of the gang.

    He urged the public to avail the police of information that would help in curbing crimes.

  • Kidnapping: Police deploy IGP squad in 8 troubled Katsina LGs

    The Katsina State Police command on Monday announced the deployment of the IGP special squad drawn from Police Mobile Force Units, Counter Terrorism Unit, IGP Special Tactical Squad, Explosive Ordinance Department and Anti Robbery Squad and the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, under operation ‘’Puff Adda’’, to the 8 frontline local Government Areas mostly afflicted by criminal activities in Katsina State

    The State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba told newsmen that the anti-kidnapping squad will be strategically deployed in three critical units along the affected Local government’s corridor, with each unit focusing on three local government areas at a time to tackle the menace of criminality in the areas

    He further disclosed that the squad went through specialized training, facilitated by the International Peacekeeping Training team from the Force Headquarters in Abuja and were expected to engage and arrest suspected bandits, kidnappers and cattle Rustlers and also to respond to distress calls along the routes.

    He said ’’I am appealing to the members of the general public to support and partner with the Nigerian Police force by providing credible information that will lead to the arrest of suspected persons in connection with these heinous crimes’’

    To those aiding and abetting criminality in the affected Local Government Areas, he charged them to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law

    ‘’I wish to also warn persons within the communities aiding and abetting the bandits by way of information or provision of logistics like fuel and food items to desist from such unwholesome practices’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

    The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, commended the Inspector General of Police for the initiative and assured that the State Government will do all it can to provide the needed operational logistics within its budgetary limits to ensure the success of the venture

    He said’ kidnapping and banditry in the state has suddenly turned a thorn in the flesh to the inhabitants of the state, and we will do all that we can and are ready to cooperate with the Police’’

    ‘’government will provide all needed logistics and whatever it takes, the government is ready to tackle the challenge in the state’’

    He warned the team to effectively patrol the length and breadth of the affected local government areas to make their presence felt by the communities rather than staying in one location

  • How to stop kidnapping, banditry, by cleric, retired general

    PRESIDENT of the United Church of Christ in Nations (HEKAN) Reverend Amos G. Kiri and Chairman of the Northeast Development Commission General Paul Tarfa (rtd) have said a synergy between the nation’s security outfits can defeat kidnapping, banditry and others.

    They also said the Federal Government must deploy tAir Force fighter jets to rid the nation’s major highways of kidnappers, robbers and bandits.

    Both spoke in Kaduna at the closing of the 53rd Annual Convention of HEKAN at Gonin Gora in Kadun yesterday.

    General Tarfa, chairman of the convention said kidnapping on Kaduna-Abuja road and other places would not stop until security agents take the fight to them in the forest.

    He said: “Since it has been identified that the criminals attack and go into the forest to hibernate, the best to do to root them out is take the fight to them in the forest. The forest must be combed, otherwise they will keep on coming back to the road.”

    Reverend Kiri said: “The need for synergy of security agencies to end this matter is important. They should join hands together and salvage the nation by forgetting about rivalry and working as a team.

    Speaking further, the HEKAN president, who was once a policeman, said besides the government should play a proactive role by supporting the agencies.

    “The government must support these agencies. I would suggest that the Air Force jets be used on the criminals through air raids and the Army battalions on foot can chase the hoodlums out of the forests,” he said.

    HEKAN president said the  truth was that the security situation had degenerated.

    “This is no exaggeration or latest news. It has been in television, social media and all over. The security situation is so bad that we cannot close our eyes to what is happening.

    “That the governor of Kaduna State ran into kidnappers and as a result, saved some Nigerians calls for concerns. What if he was not there at that moment?” he queried.

    He said the development had threatened Nigeria’s food security as people were afraid to go to their farms.

    “It  is so bad that our livelihood is threatened. We are devastated because of what the kidnappers have unleashed on us. You can’t travel because you are afraid, whether by day and night,” he lamented.

    On the presidential elections, he hailed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, for seeking redress in courts, instead of resulting to violence.

    He urged the tribunal and the court to be fair in dealing with cases before them.

  • Breaking: IGP launches Operation Puff-Arder to curb kidnapping

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has launched Operation Puff-Arder to curb the rate of kidnapping.

    The operation was launched to tackle the increasing rate of kidnapping along Abuja-Kaduna highway and neighbouring communities.

    READ ALSO: Human trafficking, migrant smuggling threat to security, says IGP

    The Police chief while launching the operation at the Divisional Police Headquarters Katari in Kaduna State on Friday also disclosed that the operation will be extended to Kogi, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States.

    Some officers deployed for Operation Puff-Arder

    The IG said the operation was in compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that its operational strategies be strategized.

    Adamu, who said criminals were not spirit, sought the support of traditional rulers and others to fish them out and rid the highway of kidnappers and other criminals.

    Details shortly…

  • We’re taking steps to tackle cybercrime, kidnapping – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) said it has taken steps to reduce the rampant cases of cybercrime, internet fraud and other electronic frauds across the country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this in Kaduna on Thursday.

    He said that the Commission is also mopping up unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards across the country in a bid to reduce crimes such as kidnapping in parts of the country.

    Addressing the NCC Special Day at the 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair at the Trade Fair Complex along Kaduna – Zaria road on Thursday, Danbatta, who was represented by the NCC Head of Internal Policy Review Unit, Mr Okechukwu Aninweke, said NCC has found a solution to unsolicited text messages from networks providers, adding that customers can also through toll free line 622 call NCC to lodge complains.

    The NCC boss, who lamented rising documented cases of cybercrime and electronic fraud using telecommunications platforms, tasked all communication subscribers in the country to be rest assured that the Commission will do everything possible to address the challenge and bring it down.

    “Another challenge on the Commission’s front burner is the rising documented cases of cybercrime and e-fraud using telecommunications platforms. Cybercrime consist of illegal activities conducted on a computer or mobile device connected to the internet.

    Read Also: NCC resumes Do Not Disturb directive

    “The Commission advices all our customers not to open email that is unfamiliar and also note that banks will not request personal information over the internet. In the event that these unfortunate circumstances should take place, call your bank immediately to freeze the affected account. Secondly report to your service provider for further action to be taken in retrieving your number.

    “One of these challenges is unsolicited text messages. We have evolved a solution called Do-Not-Disturb, DND, in which consumers are being advised to send ‘STOP’ to a code ‘2442’ to stop all unsolicited text messages. There are also options that will enable you to stop particular types of messages when you send ‘Help to 2442’. We are again urging you to take advantage of this code.

    “We also urged our consumers about the availability of toll free telephone number 622 with which consumers can lodge complaints to the commission if their service providers refuse, or are unable to resolve such complaints when reported to them,” he said.

  • Court remands three for alleged robbery, kidnapping

    A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of three persons for alleged kidnap and armed robbery.

    The suspects are Sylvanus Beakor, 53, Godspower Kagbara, 27, and Promise Kpakor, 23.

    They were said to have allegedly kidnapped Chinyere Umerah in order to demand ransom from her family.

    The suspects and others at large also allegedly dispossessed their victim of her Lexus 330 sport utility vehicle with number plate AKD 398 DZ, N180,000 cash and other valuables while armed with AK 47 rifle, pump action rifle, a locally-made long gun and other weapons.

    They were alleged to have demanded N10million ransom from their victim’s family and refused to release her after they were paid N300,000.

    The suspects allegedly committed the offence on November 20 last year, about 6:30pm, at Okpaku camp, Onne in Eleme Local Government.

    She adjourned the case till March 28.