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Tag: Kidnapping

  • Man remanded for allegedly kidnapping, raping girl, 14

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of a 20-year-old man, George Miebaka, for alleged rape.

    Miebaka, a neighbour to the teenager, allegedly abducted the 14-year-old on February 24, took her to an unknown place, tied her mouth, hands and legs and raped her.

    He was alleged to have raped the girl continuously for five days before he was apprehended on March 1.

    The accused allegedly committed the offence between February 24 and March 1 at Okrika town in Okrika Local Government.

    The two-count charge of rape and abduction was not read to him because the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter, hence, he did not take any plea.

    Miebaka was not represented by any lawyer.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and his case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

    He adjourned the case till April 18.

  • ‘Kidnapping made us swim in cash’

    The police in Niger State have arrested four suspected kidnappers terrorising Fota village in Lapai Local Government.

    The suspected kidnappers, Mohammed Abubakar, Mamuda Mohammed, Mohammed Mohammed and Amadu Garba, confessed that the ransom they got from their victims made them to live big.

    The suspects met their Waterloo after one of their kidnapped victims, Sani Dakuma, escaped from their den.

    It was learnt that the suspects had kidnapped the father of Sani and collected N1.5 million as ransom before his release.

    Speaking to reporters when paraded in Minna by the police, one of the suspects, Mamuda Mohammed, said they made a lot of money from kidnapping, adding that they used the ransom to marry many wives and live big.

    “We have been making a lot of money from our victims. Whenever we kidnapped them, the ransom paid was quite rewarding to the extent that we could compare ourselves with directors in the ministries.

    Read also: Student charged with stealing N150,000

    “We swim in cash, marry many wives and lavish money on our girlfriends. Honestly, we never knew that our cups would become full until we found ourselves in the police net,” he said.

    Police spokesman Muhammad Abubakar said the suspects were trailed and apprehended following a tip-off by officers attached to Lapai Divisional Office.

    He said the suspects have admitted to committing the offence, adding that the matter has been charged to court.

     

  • Police parade fake officer, 213 suspects

    The Akwa Ibom state police command has paraded a fake police officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police ACP) and 213 other suspects for various crimes.

    The state police commissioner, Musa Kimo who paraded the suspects before journalists on Thursday at the command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, listed their crimes as murder, Kidnapping, child stealing, defilement, stealing, armed Robbery among others.

    Kimo later in a press briefing said the fake police officer identified as Kingsley Udoyen of No.3 stadium road, in Abak council area of the state, had defrauded and threatened unsuspecting members of the public.

    The CP mentioned that one English pistol without magazine and ammunition, portraits of chief superintendent of police and Assistant Commissioner of police, three pairs of uniform, police belt, fake police identity cards as well as other documents were recovered from the suspect.

    When interrogated by journalists, the fake police officer said,”It started when I lost my job. I was with the police in Alagbon as a superintendent of police. I was dismissed in 2007 because of the illegal job I went for. I left Lagos in 2008 and went to Calabar where I met Glory Etim, my girlfriend.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill policeman, abduct APC candidate

    “She is the one who bought all these police uniforms for me, she is a serving officer and works with the Police Secondary School.

    I am a car dealer and I go to Cotonou. Since I was dismissed, I don’t have a job. I am 56 years old from Mbiaobong Ikot Etefia in Ikono and I am married with four children. I know what I am doing is against the law”, he lamented.

    The Commissioner of police further disclosed that one Joseph Effiong from Ikono local government area who worked as a security man at Royal City Central Chapel, Uyo was arrested for allegedly luring one little Miss Mfoniso Nse Okon to an uncompleted building and defiled her.

    He said another suspect one Joseph Sunday Essien was apprehended by his men for defiling his 13-year-old stepdaughter, Miss Patience Eden.

    Kimo also confirmed the arrest of two self-confessed cultists of Red Skin Confraternity, Okon Asuquo and Iboro Edet Etim , who allegedly robbed one Josephine Nkweke in her provision shop at Ekpene Ukim early this month.

    He said that eight other cultists who were confirmed members of Iceland confraternity have been arrested for armed robbery.

    The commissioner of police warned the people to desist from crime as the 2019 general election was fast approaching.

  • Kidnapping: Ekiti summons emergency security council meeting

    Apparently concerned on the rising cases of kidnapping within its territorial boundaries, the Ekiti State government has summoned an emergency security council meeting for Wednesday.

    The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday while playing host to traditional chiefs under the aegis of Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders (AETCTH) in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

    The meeting is expected to be chaired by Governor Kayode Fayemi and will have heads of all security agencies in the state in attendance in a bid to strengthen the state security architecture.

    Egbeyemi in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, said government was taking some steps to ensure security of lives and property in the state.

    The deputy governor emphasized that traditional rulers and chiefs must be on red alert in their domains and be fully involved in security of their areas.

    He warned that government would not tolerate a situation in which monarchs and chiefs allow their domains to be used by kidnappers as bases for their nefarious activities.

    The traditional chiefs who were led by their spokesman, the Odofinyin of Iyin-Ekiti, High Chief Ayodeji Esan, had listed a ten-point demand which include official recognition by government and their involvement in the maintenance of peace and security in each community.

    They also advised the government to involve local hunters and vigilance groups as part of measures to ward off the incursion of armed herdsmen and kidnappers.

    He said: “We would frown against any oba or chief in whose domains people are kidnapped, we would frown against any place where people are kidnapped or used by kidnappers to operate.

    Read Also: Buhari calls for respect for democracy in Gabon

    “Henceforth, obas and chiefs must now be on alert and you must know people in your vicinity. Be on alert especially for strange persons in your neighbourhoods and farms who may want to use those places as hideouts.

    “Those coming in and those going out of your domains, you must know them. Government is ready to assist you to ensure that there is security of lives and property.

    “Obas and chiefs in communities between Igede and Efon, Ikere and Emure, Ado and Ikere, between Iworoko and Ifaki and Ifaki and Omuo, the obas there should be up and doing.”

    “You will recall that during the first tenure of Governor Fayemi, he committed a lot of resources to security by equipping the police and purchasing over 35 vehicles for them.

    “But after four years, the vehicles are damaged and there are no replacements for them.”

    The traditional chiefs, however, pledged their loyalty to the Fayemi administration which they acknowledged invested in the development of grassroots.

    They also promised to mobilize people in the grassroots for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections to ensure victory for the party’s candidates.

  • Fayemi orders clearing of Ekiti highway bushes over kidnapping

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has ordered immediate clearing of bushes on the major highways to stem the spate of kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

    He urged the residents to always volunteer information to government and security agencies to enable them arrest and prosecute criminals.

    Fayemi spoke yesterday at an interfaith thanksgiving at Osuntokun Pavilion of the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to usher in the New Year.

    Represented by Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor said his administration needed the support of the people to tackle crime and make the state safe for investment.

    A statement by the Special Assistant (SA) on Media to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, said special prayers were offered for the success of this year’s general elections, peace, security, progress and development of Ekiti State and Nigeria.

    The service was attended by the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; the deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Egbeyemi; House of Assembly Speaker Adeniran Alagbada; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, traditional rulers, government officials, Christian and Muslim clerics.

    Fayemi said work would soon start on abandoned projects across the state.

    The governor urged monarchs, chiefs and other residents in various communities to monitor contractors and pace of work.

    He said: “We will be clearing the bush on the roadsides in Ekiti State in the next three weeks and criminals hiding in the bushes will be exposed.

    “Government has entrusted the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to clear the bushes on our highways and we want our obas and chiefs to monitor the work.

    “The security of the state is paramount to us. We want to urge our people to help us about security because this is the business of everyone of us.

    “If you know bad people among us, like kidnappers, armed robbers; if you know them or you suspect them, please, let us know.

    “You can give us information and we will not expose you for giving us information.”

    Fayemi added: “We are going to start working on abandoned projects. The Obas and chiefs should monitor the projects that would be done in their areas.

    “Please, supervise all our workers: go there and see what they are doing. If they don’t do it well, tell us and we are going to take action.”

  • Man gets 15 years for kidnapping Emzor Pharmaceuticals’ MD’s sister

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday sentenced a man, Chidiebere Nwoye, to 15 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in the kidnap of Mrs. Gloria Emole, the wife of his gang member’s former boss.

    According to the prosecutor, the Lagos State Government, Gloria Emole is a sister of Emzor Pharmaceuticals’ Managing Director.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo convicted Nwoye after his plea of “guilty” to an amended two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted robbery.

    The judge held that the jail term would run from July 13, 2013, when Nwoye was first remanded in prison custody.

    Nwoye and four others – Chukwunonso Victor, Ifeanyi Maduako, Obinna Nwanko, and one Azeez, now at large – were arraigned on July 13, 2013 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and kidnapping.

    Victor, Maduako and Nwanko are still on trial.

    During their arraignment, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on November 19, 2012, about 8:30am.

    He said they kidnapped Mrs. Emole while she was leaving her home at Unity Street, Ogudu Government Reserved Area (GRA), Lagos.

    Mrs. Emole was released after her abductors were paid $70,000 ransom.

    Martins said the offences contravened sections 297, 295 (2) and 269 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    But, following the commencement of trial, Nwoye opted for a plea bargain.

    The charge against him was then amended to conspiracy and attempted robbery, to which he pleaded guilty.

    During the trial, a prosecution witness, Inspector Gbenga Faguiro, who was led in evidence by Martins, narrated how the kidnap occurred.

    Faguiro said the first defendant, Chukwunonso Victor, was an employee of Mr. Chika Emole, the husband of Mrs. Emole, before he was sacked for fighting in the office.

    He said during investigation, the first defendant told him that the victim’s husband was his boss before he was sacked for fighting in the office.

    Faguiro testified that Victor felt Mr. Emole had a hand in the death of his only child, because of his opposition to his marriage.

    He said: “The first defendant said he travelled to China and spent four years there. On his return, he met a lady friend and they got married. She gave birth, but after some time, the baby died.

    “So the first defendant got angry and said it was his boss that killed his child because he warned him not to marry the woman.

    “The first defendant called the other defendants and one Azeez, who is at large, and they kidnapped the victim.”

    Faguiro said on November 19, 2012, about 8:30am, Mrs. Emole was about to leave her house on Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, and she gave key to her guard to open the gate.

    “The guard opened the gate and, as she was getting into her car, six gunmen accosted her, grabbed her and covered her head with a hood.”

    Faguiro said they threatened the guard with their weapons and “the Mallam, (guard) shouted ‘Allah, Allah, don’t kill me’.”

    The court heard that the gang drove their victim to an abandoned hotel in Ikorodu.

    The witness continued: “When they got inside, they asked her to call her husband and they started demanding $300,000 ransom.”

    Faguiro said the victim’s brother eventually paid $70,000 to one of the suspects, who is at large, at Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

    “Chukwunonso and the other defendants, after collecting the money, took one of the victim’s phones from her bag. They used her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw money from her account,” he added.

    The court further heard that after her kidnap, Mr. Emole reported the case at Ogudu Police Station, from where the case was transferred to the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) Ikeja.

    Faguiro said after her release, “she (Mrs. Emole) said the defendants were still with one of her phones. The SIB then collected the phone number and tracked it. That was how the first defendant, Chukwunonso, was arrested, which led to the arrest of the other defendants.”

     

     

  • Police parade 59 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery in Abuja

    The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday paraded 59 suspects for their alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.

    Seven of the suspects paraded according to the Police were responsible for the kidnap and murder of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and four others along Suleja-Minna Road in  Niger State.

    The Suspects include the 60 year old gang leader who is also the armourer of the gang;  Bello Alhaji Lawal, Sadiq Danladi, Abubakar Mohammed,  Abubakar Usman, Abdullahi Idris, Abubakar Suleiman, and Ibrahim Babangida.

    Items recovered from them are; Seven AK47 rifles, 118 rounds of ammunition, nine mobile phones, four pairs of suspected fake military Camouflage uniforms and Charms.

    The Police said the suspects were trailed and arrested in their hideout at Tunga Maje forest along Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, where the syndicate plan their operations and keep hostage of their kidnap victims.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “On 24th November, 2018, the IGP Special Strike Force on violent crimes attached to Operation Absolute Sanity in Gawu Babaginda, Niger State led by DCP Yusuf Kolo, working on actionable intelligence in a follow up of a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and four (4) others along Suleja-Minna Road, Niger State, trailed and arrested the above mentioned suspects in their hideout at Tunga Maje Forest along Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, where the syndicate plan their operations and keep hostage of their kidnap victims.

    “The suspects on sighting the Police Team opened fire and engage in a serious gun battle with the Police Team that lasted for over an hour. The superior gun power of the Police Team led to the death of three of the vicious and notorious kidnapping/armed robbery gang members and the arrest of Seven other members.

     The Police said four victims were rescued from their captivity adding that the suspects have confessed and admitted to be responsible for the kidnap of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and four others.

    “They have also revealed their various criminal roles in the armed robbery/kidnap operations and murder of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area council who was one of their victims in the kidnap operation.

    The Force said effort is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang indicted in the confessional statements of the arrested suspects adding that they will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

    52 other suspects belonging to three gangs who operate in Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina,  Zamfara and Sokoto States were also paraded by the Police. One of the suspects,  Abdra’uf Yusuf is from  Libya and he is said to be a trained gorilla fighter.

    The Police also recovered from them; Eight AK47 rifles, one  G3 rifle, two Single Barrel gun, one dane Gun, one  Revolver Pistol, 145 ammunition, five  Live Cartridges, 16 swords, three operational Vehicles of the gangs, two  Bajaj motorcycle and charms.

    The suspects in the first gang are; Abdulra’uf Yusuf ‘M’ 45yrs – Gang Leader, a Libya trained Gorilla Fighter, Bashiru Aminu ‘M’ 30yrs – Buys and Supply firearms and ammunition to armed bandits and other members of the group, Aliyu  Saidu ‘M’ 33yrs, Musa Adamu ‘M’ 35yrs, Isah Haruna ‘M’ 55yrs

    Abdullahi Haruna ‘M’ 56yrs, Mohammed Tukur ‘M’ 25yrs, Abdullahi Buhari, Aliyu Abudullahi ‘M’ 29yrs, Tukur Hassan ‘M’ 26yrs, Mande Aleri ‘M’ 30yrs and Sani  Ali ‘M’ 21yrs.

    Others are; Shehu Umar ‘M’ 30yrs, Ibrahim Garba ‘M’ 21yrs, Mohammed Sani ‘M’ 30yrs,          Mohhamed Bello ‘M’ 35yrs, Sule Dambule ‘M’  48yrs, Ahmadu Buba ‘M’ 27yrs,   Mohammed Baude ‘M’ 63yrs, Abubakar Umar ‘M’ 52yrs, Abubakar Turai ‘M’ 66yrs, Abubakar Sala ‘M’ 37yrs, Ibrahim Mohammed ‘M’ 31yrs, Abubakar Mande ‘M’ 20yrs, Abubakar Hussaini ‘M’ 60yrs, Usman Hassan ‘M’ 65yrs, Shehu Abubakar ‘M’ 70yrs, Usman Umar ‘M’ 18yrs and Yahaya Lawal ‘M’ 55yrs.

    Suspects in the second gang include; Isiyaku Samaila ‘M’ 37, Mohammed Rilwanu ‘M’ 40yrs, Usman Sani ‘M’ 35yrs, Mohammed Shuaibu ‘M’ 49yrs, Rabiu Tukur ‘M’ 30yrs, Surajo Suleiman ‘M’ 45yrs, Abdullahi Ya’u  ‘M’  30yrs,   Abdullahi Ibrahim ‘M’ 58yrs, Abubakar Ahmed ‘M’ 42yrs, Musa Abdullahi ‘M’ 48yrs,       Isah Waziri ‘M’ 35yrs,  Shuaibu Ibrahim ‘M’ 25yrs,  Shuaibu Usman ‘M’ 18yrs, Faisal Surajo ‘M’ 18yrs, Kamalu Abdulmumini ‘M’ 30 yrs, and   Ibrahim Musa ‘M’ 28yrs.

    Members of the third gang are; Abdulkarim Adamu ‘M’ 27yrs, Sani Alh Lawal ‘M’ 20yrs, Umar Garba ‘M’ 22yrs, Hussaini Mamman  ‘M’ 25yrs,  Sani Umar ‘M’ 23yrs, Musa Ibrahim ‘M’ 28yrs, and Umar Kiruwa ‘M’ 30yrs.

    Moshood said: “Consequent on recent complaints and reported cases of armed robbery/kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling and other violent crimes in some parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States, the IGP Special Strike Force on violent crimes attached to Operation Absolute Sanity, working on actionable intelligence further expanded its operations and relentlessly embarked on raids of criminal hideouts, identified kidnappers den and follow up on cases in its effort to continue to actualize its mandate to rid the country of unscrupulous elements, vicious and notorious criminals. These operations led to the arrest of 52 criminal suspects.

    “The suspects have confessed and made useful statements to the Police Investigation Team on their various criminal roles in the recent incidents of kidnapping/armed robbery and other violent crimes in the mentioned States and the above listed exhibits recovered from their possessions. Some of these suspects arrested have also been on the watch list of the Police for quite some time now.”

    The Force said the operation is on-going and more efforts are being intensified to arrest and bring other members of the gang them to justice.

  • Dismissed policeman held for alleged impersonation, kidnapping

    A dismissed policeman, Emmanuel Etim, has been arrested for allegedly posing as a policeman and spying on Chief Francis Ihama at Udo in Ovia South West Local Government of Edo State.

    He was nabbed after Chief Ihama raised the alarm that he (Etim) was in the village to kidnap him. Ihama alleged that he later received a threat call from a kidnap gang demanding payment of N5million into a First Bank account, or risk being kidnapped.

    Etim, however, denied knowing about any plot to kidnap Ihama.

    He said he joined the police in 2008 and was dismissed in 2015 for loss of firearms.

    “I was looking for money, so I used my old police accoutrement to escort a vehicle to Benin. I was to use POS when a man accused me that I wanted to kidnap him. I don’t know the man. We went to the police station and I was detained. I exported the vehicle from Lagos to Benin,” Etim said.

    Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said the items recovered from Etim included one police belt, a pair of Mobile Police trousers, Mobile Police shirt, a pair of boots and handcuff.

    He said the suspect would soon be arraigned.

  • Police parade former legislator, 15 others over ritual killings, sale of male and female organs

    Sixteen men, including a former legislator and a vigilance group commander  alleged to be  involved in  kidnapping, ritual murder and sale of the human private organs in  Kogi State were yesterday  paraded by the police in Abuja.

    Police spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood,said  male and female organs, including that of a police inspector were  harvested and sold by the syndicate whose ages range between 19 and 45 years.

    The gang,according to   Moshood,was  working under the instructions or request of  a wealthy businessman, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye-Marina (43 years).

    A manhunt is underway to arrest patrons of the group.

    The police sid the arrested men have confessed to the killings and removal of body parts of several people.

    However, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu and Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali, a former Kogi state legislator vociferously disowned the gang’s leader who claimed to have been liaising with them, adding that they are doing legitimate businesses with credible business partners including the first son of a former governor of Kogi State.

    Aside from six identified victims including the late Inspector Abdul Alfa who was axed from behind and his police rifle snatched, most of the human organs sale syndicate’s victims cannot be properly identified, even after helpful confession from the criminal suspects.

    Names of the suspects who are indigenes of Ankpa local government in Kogi state as given by the police include: Honourable Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali, alias Halims (35);his driver, Alhaji Abdullahi Zakari (35); a businessman, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye-Marina (43); Akwu Audu (21); Sale Adama (45); Musa Abdulahi (32);Yakubu Yahaya (30); Adama Shagari (30); Baba Isah (23); Isaac Alfa (19); Idoko Benjamin (20);and Yakubu Hamidu (39) alleged to be the gang leader while also working as  vigilance group commander in Ankpa Local Government.

    Four other suspects who hail from neighbouring Ofu local are Ubile Attah (21); Julius Alhassan (30); Shehu Haliru alias Fedeco (25); and Abdullahi Tijani (27).

    Exhibits allegedly recovered from them are one pump action gun, two locally fabricated single barrel guns and three short axes.

    According to the police spokesman, the rampant cases of missing persons,  killing of innocent people and the removal of their private parts for ritual purposes in Ankpa town and environs made the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris to direct the IGP Strike Force attached to Operation Absolute Sanity to investigate all such cases, arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

    “In the course of investigation , it was discovered that this gang – from information and intelligence gathered from public spirited individuals and other residents- were responsible for kidnapping, gruesome murder, and ritual killings of innocent people in Kogi State, travellers passing through Kogi State and strangers coming into towns in the area were mostly victims.

    ”Yakubu Hamidu (39 years old Gang Leader and  a Vigilante Commander of Ankpa), and  his vigilante guards are the hit-men responsible for the killings of several victims and removing their organs, mostly male and female organs including other body parts such as the head, kidney, and other vital body organs and selling them to personalities within and outside the state for rituals.

    “During interrogations, the Gang Leader, Yakubu Hamidu and his members now in Police custody confessed to the crime and admitted that they were sponsored and working for Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali alias Halims and Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye- Marina whom they handed over the body parts to, after killing their victims and severing their body organs and collecting huge sums of money ; Aye-Marina’s driver known as Zakaru receives the body parts from Yakubu Hamidu.

    ” Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali a.k.a Halims who has volunteered statement to the investigators is now in Police custody and is suspected to have used the proceeds of crime to build and own so many properties including big hotels and several filling stations in Kogi State while Alhaji  Shaibu Adamu a.k.a Aye Marina, without any known profession or any known means of livelihood was suspected also to have built ,and owns mansions and four filling stations in Ankpa, Kogi State and another four at Onyangede in Benue State with the proceeds of the crime.

    “Yakubu Hamidu, Julius Alhasan, Shehu Haliru, Ubile Attah and Akwu Audu have confessed to the gruesome killing of Inspector Abdul Alfa attached to Ejule Police outpost in Ofu Local Government on 28 th  November, 2017 and carted away the Police rifle in his possession.

    “All the suspects have made voluntary statements to the Police Investigation Team and have confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the recent kidnapping, gruesome murder and ritual killing attacks on innocent residents and the killing of a Police Inspector, Inspr. Abdul Alfa, attached to Ejule Police Outpost, in Kogi State.

    “Investigation is being concluded and efforts being intensified to arrest other suspects who include prominent personalities linked to the crime but still at large; they will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation .

     

  • Driver, two passengers kidnapped in Ekiti

    …Abductors demand N5 Million ransom

    The trend of kidnapping has again returned to Ekiti State with the abduction of a bus driver and two others.

    The driver whose name was given as Mr. Julius Ogunsemi was seized by suspected gunmen along Ikere-Igbara Odo Road at about 11.00 am.

    Read Also:Police smash syndicate specialized in issuing kidnapping threats

    Sources revealed that the suspected kidnappers called family members of their captors on Thursday demanding for a ransom of N5 million before they could be set free.

    Ogunsemi, 70, was said to be carrying eight passengers in his Suzuki mini bus locally known as “Akoto” when the gunmen reportedly struck.

    The armed gunmen positioned themselves on a very bad portion of the road which forced vehicles to slow down before pouncing on their victims.

    The suspected kidnappers, who were said to be five in number, abducted three persons and allowed five others to go.

    They were said to have abandoned the mini bus about five kilometers from where they abducted and ferried their victims farther before taking them inside the forest.

    A family member who craved anonymity said: “What those who were in the bus told us was that, eight of them were in the bus around 11am. As they drove towards that route, five hefty men emerged from the bush and stopped the bus.

    “We were told that they were on a bad portion of the road where driver would have to slow down when these evil doers came out and started asking about the identities of those in the bus.

    “After doing the screening, they only abducted three of them and allowed others to go untouched. They drove them in that bus for over five kilometers before they dropped the bus and entered into the bush and took them in another vehicle”, he stated.

    “They have contacted the families of those abducted. What they demanded was N5 million ransom for the release of the trio.

    “They have only called once and they never called since they did that on Thursday. We are still establishing contacts with them but that has not been successful.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, said the report of the kidnap was yet to reach the state command at press time.

    Ikechukwu said: “I don’t think the family has reported this incident to the police, because we are yet to be briefed here at the command.

    “But I want to assure that the police will swing into action and ensure their safe return as soon as we have truthful information about the incident”.