The Nation Newspaper

Tag: N20m ransom

  • Abductors of Edo APC chieftain demand N20m ransom

    Abductors of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Are of Edo State, Deacon Henry Ashofor, have demanded the payment of N20 million ransom to release him.

    Ashofor was reportedly abducted last Saturday near Aiyetoro community on Igarra-Ibillo road while returning from a ceremony.

    Another party chieftain in the area confirmed that the abductors called their victim’s wife on Sunday morning.

    The politician, who spoke in confidence, said Ashofor’s wife begged to pay N600,000 but they refused.

    It was gathered that the Akoko-Edo APC Ward 3 Chairman, Mr. Arnold Shadrach, was released same Saturday after spending some days with his abductors.

    The Secretary to the Otaru of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania, said life was no longer safe in the locality.

    He said: “But the police here are handicapped. They have no vehicle, no personnel. What we are saying is that the good work the governor is doing should be complemented by the Federal Government by sending down a military base to Igarra.

    “Our economic life has been destroyed; farmers don’t go to farm these days. There is no week we don’t experience these things up to four times.

    “The activities of these hoodlums have become so worrisome. They are dare devilled and blood thirsty. Almost on a daily basis, they carry out their heinous crimes. Deacon Ashofor was kidnapped on Saturday on the same route where they carry out their crimes.

    “Just last week, a retired head teacher was kidnapped on the same route. Few days back at Okpe Junction, people who were coming from a function were attacked by gunmen. The four tyres of their vehicle were shattered. Few months ago, two retired matrons from the General Hospital were kidnapped in Igarra. We have not even recovered from the robbery in which several lives were lost.”

  • Abductors of Ondo monarch’s wife demand N20m ransom

    Abductors of Olori Olukemi Agunloye, the wife of Alauga of Auga in Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State, have demanded N20 million ransom for her release and the driver with whom she had been in captivity since last Sunday.

    The monarch’s wife and the driver were between Auga and Ise Akoko on their way to Ugbe Akoko, the home town of the Olori, for a family meeting.

    The monarch, who broke the news yesterday, urged the abductors to temper justice with mercy as negotiation was on going. Monarchs in Akoko have expressed concern about incessant kidnaping on Akunu-Auga-Ise-Isua axis.

    There have been several security meetings in the area.

    The Olubaka of Oka, Oba Yusuf Adeleye and Akala of Ikaram, Oba Andrew Momodu, expressed sympathy with the Alauga on behalf of Akoko traditional council.

    Residents of Auga town have been praying and fasting for a safe release of the Olori and the driver.

  • Abductors demand N20m ransom for seized woman in Rivers

    •Another victim’s whereabouts unknown

    Gunmen have abducted a woman, Mrs. Theresa Enyinda, from Omukworoga village in Omerelu community of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
    She was taken to an unknown place on Sunday.
    The same day, gunmen abducted Mr. Fortune Ogbumgbada at Rumualogu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government.
    The incidents, it was learnt, caused panic among residents of both communities.
    A resident of Omukworoga, Assor Innocent, said the bandits invaded the community from the bushes and seized their victim.
    Innocent said: “She was kidnapped in her house at 1 p.m on Sunday. Some policemen have interrogated those around to know what happened.
    “The hoodlums have established contacts with the family of the victim. They are demanding N20 million ransom, saying one of the women’s children is in Dubai and that the family could provide the ransom.
    “Hoodlums have taken over our farm roads and the Government Secondary School. They use an area of the hostel that is dilapidated for their operation.
    They rape girls, steal and molest men daily. We are calling on security operatives to come to our aid.”
    Also, the family of Ogbumgbada said it had not been contacted by abductors of its member.
    Ogbumgbada, who was abducted at Rumualogu community, was returning home from church.
    His wife, who was on the passenger’s seat, was shot. She is in hospital.
    An older brother to the victim, who did not want to be named but claimed to have witnessed the incident, said the hoodlums began to trail his brother immediately he drove out of the church premises.
    He begged the abductors to release Ogbumgbada unconditionally.
    The distraught brother said the family had not established contact with the abductors.
    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), promised to reach the District Police Officers (DPO) in those areas and get back to our correspondent yesterday.
    He did not.

  • Abductors demand N20m ransom to release cleric

    Abductors of Rev. Jude Onyebadi of the Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku in Delta State have demanded N20 million ransom for his release.
    Onyebadi, who is the Parish Priest of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Issele-Azagba, was kidnapped last Friday at his pineapple farm between Ubulu-Uku and Issele-Uku communities by three gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
    A renowned philanthropist, Onyebadi, has one of the biggest commercial pineapple farms in the state.
    Sources said the cleric was dragged into the bush by his abductors.
    The operation was said to have lasted a few minutes.
    The hoodlums reportedly opened negotiations with a bosom friend of the victim and initially demanded for N50 million before reducing it to N20 million, following further negotiations.
    But the Director of Communications of the diocese, Rev. Charles Uganwa, said the church would not pay any ransom to the abductors.
    Also, the police command assured that the cleric would soon be freed.
    It urged the church and all those connected with him to cooperate with security operatives.
    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said his men were closing in on the hoodlums.
    He said: “We are combing the bushes and, very soon, he will be freed. I can assure you that we are monitoring the kidnappers who keep shifting from one location to the other. But no matter how they may try to hide, we will get them.
    “We are not just going to rescue the victim. We will also ensure that the hoodlums are arrested and brought to justice.”