The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kidnappings

  • AIG to deploy special squad in Epe over kidnappings

    AIG to deploy special squad in Epe over kidnappings

    •Kidnappers demand N20million ransom

    A squad is to be deployed in Epe to tackle the rising cases of kidnapping, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Kayode Aderanti said yesterday.
    The zonal Intervention squad (ZIS) will work with operatives of the Lagos and Ogun police commands, he told The Nation in a telephone interview.
    He said: “I have received conflicting reports as to what happened in that area and so, I am already looking into it. I have asked for a detailed report, so that I could have a better picture.
    “But I can assure you that the ZIS would be deployed to the area to assist operatives of the Lagos and Ogun commands in flushing out the criminals. We are going to do the job we are being paid for.”
    Kidnappers who snatched five workers at Kodjo farms on Sunday have demanded N20million for their release, it was learnt yesterday.
    Gunmen numbering about 20 clad in military camouflages stormed the farm on Sunday morning and kidnapped the guard, Kakaja Joseph, 65 and four farmers.
    It was learnt that the kidnappers, suspected to be militants returned on Sunday night and blocked the expressway in a bid to kidnap more people.
    They were confronted by the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS) operatives in a gun battle that lasted over an hour.
    Some police patrol vehicles, it was learnt, were riddled with bullets, while many of the militants escaped with gunshot wounds.
    The gunmen were said to have returned on Monday in a botched attempt to kidnap school children.
    They were said to have blocked the expressway again, but were confronted by security forces. The reportedly fled and went away with two travellers, whose cars were abandoned on the expressway.
    According to a source, the kidnappers contacted Joseph’s son in the early hours of yesterday and demanded N20million ransome for all the farm workers.
    “The kidnappers called the man’s son around past midnight and they told him that N20million should be provided for the release of the guard and four farm workers. I wonder where they expect the people to get that kind of money.
    “The security guard doesn’t even earn up to N20,000 a month. So, where do they expect his family to get that kind of money? If they had money, would the old man be working as a guard? They should just release the victims,” said the source.

  • Mark raises alarm over killings, kidnappings in Benue state.

    Mark raises alarm over killings, kidnappings in Benue state.

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday raised the alarm over the spate of murders, kidnappings and gang-related activities in Benue State.

    The unfortunate development, Mark said, has claimed scores of lives and property worth millions in recent times.

    The former Senate President who was reacting to the death of a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father John Adeyi in the hands of kidnappers who abducted him over 60 days ago, noted that the upsurge in criminal activities have reached an intolerable level.

    A statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, said that Mark wondered what a harmless Catholic Priest would do to deserve that kind of dehumanization and eventual murder by kidnappers.

    It said that Mark urged the Catholic Community, especially the bereaved family, to take solace in the fact that Father Adeyi was a true servant of God who gave his all to win souls for Christ.

    It said that a worried Senator Mark stated that even as he mourns the death of Adeyi in the hands of kidnappers, “news filtered into town that another of his constituent and a Catholic Priest with Kano Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Julius Inalegwu was abducted in the early hours of yesterday in Kano State.”

    It said that Mark implored the Inspector General of Police and other Security operatives to do all that is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice forthwith.

    It quoted Mark who represents Benue South Senatorial District to have said: “My constituents feel unsafe in their homes, at their businesses, while going about social activities or places of worship”.

    It said that the former Senate President noted that the primary goal of any government is to ensure security and welfare of citizens, insisting that it is incumbent on leaders at all levels to secure the citizens.

    It said that Senator Mark tasked his people to be security conscious at all times and added that they needed to cooperate with the police to fish out criminals in order to guarantee a safe environment for people to go about their legitimate businesses unmolested.

  • Kidnappings: Intelligence information hoarding hampers police work, says IGP

    Kidnappings: Intelligence information hoarding hampers police work, says IGP

    Intelligence information hoarding has been revealed as a major impediment to the effectiveness of the Nigerian Police in tackling insurgency, kidnapping and other crimes, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase has said.

    Arase spoke at the House of Representatives public hearing on 10,000 personnel recruitment, high profile murder cases and other related matters.

    Arase, who was represented by Dan Azumi Doma, Deputy Inspector General of the (DIG) Finance and Administrative also said federal character would be applied in the recruitment of the 10,000 policemen.

    While disclosing that torture no longer takes place in police custodies nationwide, Arase said his men have never engaged in shooting protesters and rioters at sight.

    The Haliru Jika-led ad hoc committee had questioned the IGP on reasons for seeming ineffectiveness of police at combating crimes, extra judicial killings and the recruitment exercise among others.

    On high profile murder cases involving former Justice Minister Bola Ige, elder statesman Alfred Rewane among several others, the IGP said the cases are in court and would not want to comment on them.

    Responding to the seeming failure of the police to combat insurgency, kidnapping and other crimes, Arase emphasised failure or reluctance of other security agencies to share intelligence information as a big challenge.

    He said: “We engage other services and members of the public to check crimes but intelligence information hoarding by other security agencies is a big challenge.

    “We have problems with intelligence information sharing with other security agencies because they keep information to themselves.

    “We feel that there should be avenue for agencies that needed information to have it immediately to be able to act on it and make the country more secure.

    “This is because intelligence sharing is dynamic, it is needed at the point it was needed, not days before or after it was passed.

    “It is when it was passed to us that we will act on it, if we say we want to go to the Office of the National Securoty Advuser (ONSA) to share the information before we act, the crime would have been committed.

    “What we do before now and still advocating is that intelligence, once generated by another agency should be handed to the agency that needed it immediately.

    “What has been happening before now is that agencies that generate intelligence, because they want to get the credit, they will report it to their oga in Abuja.

    “Assuming it is a Lagos matter, the man in Lagos will prefer to pass it to his DG in Abuja before it gets to the Commissioner in Lagos who is supposed to act on it.

    “The situation is such that the DG will now pass it to the IG, who in turn will pass it to the DIG and so on like that.

    “Before it gets to the the man in Lagos who is to act on it, the criminals would have gone.

    “What we are advocating is that monthly security and constant meeting between the ComPol and other services should be be promoted”.

    He also identified inadequate security manpower, pathetic training facilities and platforms that needed to be upgraded and acquired as other factors militating against the effectiveness of the police in discharging its duties to the Nigerians public.

    He however said Assistant Inspector General of Policr (AIG) Joseph Mbu, while he was a Commissioner of Police (ComPol) in Rivers and Lagos State never ordered his men to shoot protesters at sight.

    “I have not seen any Command where the Commissioner of Police give shoot at sight orders.

    “Not in this dispensation, since 1999, no ComPol has given that order to my knowledge. Mbu is not here but I can speak for him, he never went on air and say shoot rioter or protesters at sight.

    “What he was trying to say is that that police operations are guided by the constitution and the conditions under the policeman can aply his firearms, ” he added.

    He also disclosed that N8.7b would be required by the police to execute the 10,000 police personnel recruitment presidential directive.

    He assured the Committee that federal character would be applied in the exercise adding that as a regimented organization, each of the nation’s 744 Local government councils would be represented.

  • Kidnappings: Police commissioner resumes in Ekiti

    Kidnappings: Police commissioner resumes in Ekiti

    •Doctors withdraw emergency services from govt hospitals

    A Commissioner of Police, Etop John James, has resumed in Ekiti State with a pledge to restore peace, law and order.

    Addressing some interest groups sympathetic to Governor Ayo Fayose at the Trade Fair Complex yesterday, James said he would use community policing to tackle kidnapping and other crimes in the state.

    The interest groups included the House of Assembly members-elect, drivers’ unions, market women and commercial motorcyclists.

    The police chief said his brief was to meet various interest groups and stakeholders, promising to operate an open door policy.

    He revealed that he has the mandate of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to make the state safe for law-abiding residents and restore public confidence in the Force.

    He said: “Any group that is legitimate is free to talk to me. I will use all information I have now and I will listen to others. I am here to ensure peace.

    “I was given only one mandate; it is to go and do police job. My duty is to ensure peace.

    “Let everybody go about their businesses and the only way we can do it is by remaining peaceful.

    “Part of my brief is to meet the various interest groups and every group is free to talk to me.

    “I love the way you conducted yourselves and left your requests for me to work with.

    “I cannot stop being an officer of community policing, we must always follow the rule of law. I will take what you have told me seriously as I will always listen to others.”

    A lawmaker-elect, Kola Oluwawole, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the people are tired of political instability and crimes being witnessed in the state.

    He said: “I want to plead with you that we want peace urgently in Ekiti. We want the peace we were enjoying to continue, all sorts of provocation, harsh press statements should stop, enough of kidnapping, robbery.

    “We want the estranged lawmakers to come back home and join hands to move the state forward.”

    Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have suspended emergency services in all government hospitals in the state.

    The doctors said the move was to protest the kidnap of their colleagues and continued threats from kidnappers.

    In separate letters to Fayose and the IG dated May 18 after an emergency meeting of the association on May 16, the NMA bemoaned the increasing rate of kidnapping in the state, especially its members lamenting that the measures taken by the government and security operatives had not yielded the desired result.

    The association said it was ordering its members to suspend services “since the safety of our members offering those services cannot be guaranteed again”.

    A protest letter by the Chairman, Dr. John Akinbote and Secretary Dr. Akinyele Akinwale, reads: “The emergency services aimed at saving lives of citizens in the course of our protest is hereby suspended since the safety of our members offering those services cannot be guaranteed.

    “Your Excellency should speed up quick intervention of the Inspector General of Police since we gathered your commendable petition had already been sent to his office.

    “We shall resume full clinical duties only after we are able to ascertain palpable and visible security measures to protect people of Ekiti State and the unconditional release of those kidnapped.”

  • Fresh wave of kidnappings hits Anambra

    Kidnapping has returned full blast to Anambra State, creating fresh worries for the government, which has spent millions of naira on security.

    Governor Peter Obi has paid special attention to kidnapping in his approach to the insecurity in the state.

    Mostly hit by the new wave of kidnappings are the commercial capital Onitsha and the state capital, Awka.

    Yesterday, a woman was kidnapped in her house in Fegge area of the commercial city while preparing for the Sunday church service.

    It was a sad Saturday night in Nkwelle Umudioka in Awka, when suspected kidnappers killed one man and injured another.

    Though, Anambra State Police was aware of the kidnappings, they declined to confirm the incidents, when our correspondent contacted them.

    But sources told said a man identified as Oba, was killed by the kidnappers.

    However, an eye witness said the five man gang stormed the community at 8.30pm in an L300 Mitsubishi Bus.

    An the eye witness recounted: “they kidnapped one unidentified man, but unfortunately their vehicles engine failed to start when they were about to go.

    “They then flagged down an oncoming vehicle, pulled out person in the car and shot him dead.”

    “Before they realised what was happening, they man they kidnapped was running away but they shot him in the legs and ran away before people started coming out”

    It was gathered yesterday that the two vehicles were taken to the Police station in Awka.

    A police officer who pleaded anonymity told the Nation that kidnappers had held Awka hostage since over a week, adding that about a week ago, a business man who owns a filling station in the state capital was kidnapped and released Saturday evening.

    The officer said: “ kidnapping has returned to Anambra state after a lull. and the way it is happening in Onitsha has become worrisome to everybody. It is unfortunate.“

  • Delta kidnappings: A way out

    Delta kidnappings: A way out

    Despite the frantic effort of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to set up a combined military task force in Warri to combat incessant kidnappings in the state, kidnapping is growing at geometrical progression while victims bear the brunt. Kidnapping in the state is fast becoming a worthwhile business for some of the youths who feel it is the only way to make ends meet. Even Governor Uduaghan went as far as to set up another Delta Police Anti- kidnapping Squad (PAS) and purchased heavily armoured vehicles for security agencies in the state to combat the menace but to no avail.

    It is sad that an oil rich state is being put under the siege of ferocious kidnappers. this is preventing foreign investors from investing. Kidnapping is fast becoming a scientific crime that has spread into every nook and cranny of the state. The continuation of high profile kidnappings of prominent sons and daughters could be traced to political instability that has crept into the state with no definite solution. The incessant arrests of abductors are yet to bring a stop to kidnapping.

    Since 2010 when the menace spread to Delta State over 200 kidnappers have been apprehended while the head of the Delta Police Anti- kidnapping Squad, Dickson Adeyemi was accused and arrested alongside with his boys over aiding and abetting of kidnappers in the state.

    Some say kidnappings could be traced to unemployment among youths, greed, insider involvement, politics and ex-militants. But the fact is that kidnapping is a high form of criminality which is similar to armed robbery, raping, ritual killings and stealing. Statistics show that over 20 people have been kidnapped. Some of the recent victims are Professor Hope Eghagha, Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Chief Gregory Oke Akpojene, Markson Macaulay, the son of the present SSG, and Prof Kanene Okonjo, the mother of the Minister of Finance, among others.

    Last year, Dr Mrs. Ugboma, the mother of the popular comedian, Bovi Ugboma, was almost kidnapped but for the quick intervention of the police who were on patrol duty.

    Overtly, kidnapping could also be traced to the failure to tackle the emergence of insurgent Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    Terrorism is gradually spreading to other parts of the country. In the South West, pipeline vandalism is becoming more pronounced while in the South East, kidnapping is a major profession of youths now. Yet security is being treated with levity despite the huge budgetary vote.

    Again, the unjust ban of motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, is also causing incessant kidnappings without providing alternative means to Okada riders. rather the government is providing tricycles that are beyond the reach of ordinary okada rider on the street in the state. Some traditional leaders and politicians are behind the kidnapping spree. Most of the youths that resort to kidnapping as the only way to survive are the ones neglected by politicians.

    In a nutshell, Governor Uduaghan needs to hold comprehensive town hall meetings on monthly basis where all traditional rulers, elders, community leaders, security agencies, the 25 local government chairmen, stakeholders, industrialists, church leaders, NGOs, NBA, students, medical practitioners, traders associations, artisans and others should find a lasting solution to kidnappings in the state. Jailing kidnappers for 44 years would rather increase kidnappings.

    It is time for the state government to involve private- public partnership in curbing crime among unemployable youths in the state. The three-point agenda of the governor of which security and peace topped the list must be achieved to make the state centre of excellence

     

    By Godday Odidi

    Ajegunle Apapa. Lagos.

  • Police arrest suspected mastermind of Lagos robberies, kidnappings

    Police arrest suspected mastermind of Lagos robberies, kidnappings

    A woman who is allegedly behind most armed robbery operations, kidnappings and assassinations in Lagos has been arrested by the state police command.

    The force said her vehicle was used for the robbery operation at Iteri area of the metropolis where two policemen were killed.

    She also sponsored the abduction and killing of a businessman, Mr. Oddi Nweze and other prominent people in FESTAC, Ikoyi, Surulere, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, and Ago Palace way.

    Police sources at Area ‘E’, Command, FESTAC Town, where Ngozi Onowu is currently being detained told The Nation that apart from arranging hotel accommodations for the gang which is led by her younger brother, the suspect also registered mobile communications network providers’ SIM cards with fake names and addresses for them.

    “It is with these SIM cards that they used to communicate with their victims before their abductions and assassinations. If they are not hired to kill their victims, they will use the SIM cards to communicate with their relations and family members for ransom. The moment ransom is picked, the SIM cards are destroyed,” the source told our correspondent.

    The Nation gathered that the two kidnap kingpins that were declared wanted by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nweze are Onowu’s younger brother and cousin.

    “She was the one that arranged their escape. Chibuzor Onowu and Kingsley Okwudili led the gang that killed the businessman. It was Ngozi that helped them to fled from the country,” the source said.