The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ransom

  • ’Fed Govt seeking source of Chibok girls’ ransom demand’

    ’Fed Govt seeking source of Chibok girls’ ransom demand’

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has denied reports that Boko Haram is demanding $50 million from the government as ransom for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

    President Muhammadu Buhari promised to do all he can to ensure the release of the girls, during his recent meeting with their parents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The minister said yesterday: “It appears we have several versions of this report. The one that we heard was from a source that (Boko Haram) wants to release 10 of these girls for 1 million euros,” he told the VOA.

    “But the most important thing is that we’ve gone through this route before, and until and when we establish the credibility of this source and the truth behind it, the government will not be in a hurry to make a statement.  However, government is using its own channels to authenticate the credibility of this source.”

    Mohammed said the accusation that the Buhari administration appears not to be doing enough to secure the release of the more than 200 girls is not fair.

    “No day passes without the issue of the kidnapped girls not being at the front burner. But these are highly security and intelligence issues, which cannot always be discussed openly,” he said, adding that: “But I can assure you that for this government, the return of these girls is what is going to bring the final closure on the Boko Haram terrorism and we are working very hard, daily on it.”

    Mohammed’s remarks came after the government announced it has made significant progress in the fight against Boko Haram.

    The administration said it has “technically” defeated Boko Haram. But critics say the militants continued attacks on unarmed civilians, including the use of suicide bombers, shows Boko Haram remains potent, despite the government’s reports.

    “Those who say that are being very unfair to us,” Mohammed said.

    “We inherited a very bad situation where the trail had gone cold, despite that every day we send out reports, we receive [information] some of them are phony, some of them are just there to excoriate government.

    “But the truth of the matter is that it’s not a matter that the government is taking lightly. Those who want a daily report on what we are doing, of course in security that does not happen. But we have channels of information in which we make available on a need-to-know basis,” he said.

    Mohammed said the military has been able to wrest control of territories previously under the control of the Boko Haram militants. He also said the militants have been dislodged from their fortresses, including their main operation centre in the Sambisa Forest.

    “What we have today is cowardly attacks on soft targets. … And Nigeria has moved on from that and we are now concentrating very much on the rehabilitation, resettlement of those who are displaced. And I think the fact that one of the most wanted persons all over the world was captured without even firing a shot last week. … I think, is evidence so far of Nigeria’s success in dealing with terrorism,” Mohammed said.

  • Jonathan visits freed foster father, laments kidnapping

    Jonathan visits freed foster father, laments kidnapping

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, lamented increasing trend of abductions for ransom across the country particularly in the Niger Delta region.

    Jonathan was said to have condemned kidnapping when he visited the home of his freed foster father, Chief Nitabai Inegite, who regained freedom after spending about a month in kidnappers’ den.

    It was gathered that the former President paid the visit in the company of some prominent traditional rulers from his Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area.

    He reportedly appealed to security agencies to stem the tide by doubling their efforts.

    Relieving his ordeals, Inegite, said though he was not maltreated by his abductors, he was happy to be home.

    He expressed sadness over the killing of his nephew Samuel Oki by the kidnappers.

    He said he appealed to the kidnappers, who stormed his residence on two speedboats, to leave Oki alone.

    Inengite who said he was not aware that they later killed his nephew, thanked his sympathisers.

    King Lot Ogiasa, Paramount ruler Otuoke, King Lawson the clan head of Ogbia kingdom of chiefs were among the traditional rulers who accompanied the former President.

    Inengite who was abducted on February 17, was on Tuesday released from captivity.

  • Abducted school girls: Kidnappers demand N200million ransom

    Abducted school girls: Kidnappers demand N200million ransom

    The kidnappers of three girls from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) have demanded N200 million as ransom.

    Timilehin Olisa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo, all SS2 students were whisked away at about 9:30pm on Monday from their classroom while they were having prep.

    Timilehin, it was learnt is the daughter of the State’s Anglican School Management Board.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers contacted the father of one of the girls on Tuesday, demanding N200 million in exchange of the three students.

    They were said to have gotten the number of the man they contacted from his daughter, and allegedly made it known that their target was the school.

    It was learnt that the criminals’ first call to the man was ended abruptly and they called him again to pass their massage.

    This development was said to have provoked an emergency meeting between the school’s management, victims’ parents and security agencies led by the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, which lasted till the early hours of Wednesday.

    Three other meetings were held between 11am and 4:15pm with the school authorities, the combat squads and heads of intelligence agencies.

    However, it could not be ascertained if the school would negotiate with the kidnappers, although they were expecting their call at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile The Nation learnt that security agencies have been completely surrounded the school.

    It was gathered that the suspects’ location have been identified and several crack teams of military personnel, police and DSS and the local vigilante group known as ‘Oyabo’ have been deployed into their hideout.

    The Nation also learnt that the criminals were still within Lagos and shocked to a corner.

    It was learnt that the parents and teachers have intensified prayers for the release of the girls, just as academic activities did not start until past 10am.

    As at 4pm, normalcy has however returned to the premises, save for the heavy presence of security men around the administrative block and outside the school gate.
    Some parents who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the management of the school for lack of adequate security.

    They said on various occasions, the school management was advised to raise the school fence at the School of Science and Technology, but their suggestion was ignored.

    But the school principal, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi who looked very disturbed vented his anger on reporters whom he accused of sabotaging rescue efforts.

    CP Owoseni also put forward the same line of argument, telling journalists who were within the premises to go as information will be communicated to them in due time.

    Adeyemi exploded after several pressures from reporters on him to comment on the issue.

    He said: “The girls have not been found till this moment and why do you want me to start addressing the press? Is that the only job we are going to do all day? People are busy searching for the girls while you are busy asking questions.

    “You cannot keep disturbing us here all you need do is to join us in prayers. Honestly, you people are not helping matters. Infact, you’re adding to the problem by disturbing what people could have done at the right time.

    “The Deputy governor was here and we recounted the whole issue in her presence and the press men asked various questions. Both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police has addressed the press but for everybody to be coming here as if this place is a pilgrimage area is not good enough.

    “Let us respect people and the situation, let us look for solution but everybody just want something they will go out there and broadcast the wrong thing even Channels Television did not report the right thing.”

  • Gunmen kidnap ex-Ondo council chair’s wife, demand N2m ransom

    The wife of the former chairman of Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mrs Atinuke Ogunmilade, was yesterday evening kidnapped by suspected gunmen.

    Mrs Ogunmilade was reportedly kidnapped along Ogbagi-Akoko and Ikare-Akoko while traveling in her car Toyota car.

    A community leader in the town, Alhaji Rasaq Apalowo who spoke with The Nation, said, Mrs Ogumilade was going to her shop in Ikare-Akoko from Ogbagi-Akoko where she lives when she was kidnapped.

    He said: The kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding N2million ransom. They said she has been taken to a location close to Ajasepo in Kwara State and threatening to kill her if the family fails to pay the ransom within five days. We want to appeal to the police and other security agents in Kwara State to work towards ensuring her safe release.”

    Efforts to get the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikare-Akoko Police Division, Mr Adewale Suleiman however proved abortive.

  • I got N100, 000 from ransom – Suspected kidnapper

    I got N100, 000 from ransom – Suspected kidnapper

    A suspected kidnapper, Friday Allen confessed that he received N100, 000  out of one million Naira ransom his alleged gang got from a kidnapped victim.

    Allen, 27, however denied being a member of the gang that abducted a businessman at Abijo, insisting that he was forced to stay with the victim.

    The suspect who was arrested after the police tracked the telephone number that the victim’s family was contacted through and traced him to his 9, Borrow Pit, Sango Tedo resident, stated that the real kidnappers collected his phone from him and forced him to look after the businessman in the bush he was kept.

    Narrating how he got involved, Allen said one Agali who lived on the same area had invited him over for a drink.

    “He told me that we should hang out and drink a bottle at a joint and we went in his Gulf car. But after the drink, when we were supposed to go, he drove towards a Toyota Camry car.

    “He told me to come down and enter the Camry. When I got close to the Camry, I saw two other boys there and I saw that there was a man who was tied. His head was covered and his neck bent.

    “I refused to enter and asked them what they were doing with the man but he brought out a gun and pointed it at me that if I don’t enter, he will kill me there.

    “I was scared and that was how I entered. They collected my phone from me and drove into Abijo bush where they kept the man. We were inside the bush for two days, Agali will go out and buy food for us and the man.

    “On the third day, he said the family was going to pay and he collected one million Naira from them and gave me N100, 000. They did not return my phone to me.

    “I was arrested in my house while I was sleeping. Police said they tracked the number that was used to contact the businessman’s family and they found my address.

    “I am not a kidnapper. I have never followed them for any operation. I have never robbed before. I am the only child of my father and we do not have money. I am the one who usually takes care of my father each time I return from my labouring job.

    “Now, I do not know what will happen to him. I just wished that I could be killed instead of bringing this kind of embarrassment on my father,” said Allen.

  • Kidnappers of Fegor Ogude’s wife demand ransom

    Fegor Ogude will miss the start of Amkar Perm’s training camp scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 11  to  31 as a result of the abduction of his wife in Delta State, Nigeria.

    The General-Director of Amkar Perm, Igor Rezvuhin, has revealed that the hoodlums have asked the Nigeria international midfielder for a ransom but refused to disclose the amount.

    “He will definitely miss the beginning of the camp. What will happen next, we’ll see, ” said Igor Rezvuhin to tass.ru.

    “( Criminals ) asked for ransom but I’m not prepared to discuss exactly how much. We will do everything we can to help the  player get out of the situation. ”

    The 28 – year – old Ogude transferred to Amkar Perm in January 2014 after spending three and a half years with Vålerenga in Norway.

  • Al-Makura demands probe of ransom for failed release of Chibok girls

    Al-Makura demands probe of ransom for failed release of Chibok girls

    Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al – Makura yesterday urged security agencies to probe the whereabouts of funds collected from the treasury for the botched release of 219 Chibok girls.

    He also asked  a former Minister of Information Labaran Maku to explain the failed deal.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan visited Chadian President Idris Deby at least twice ostensibly to solicit support to trace the whereabouts of the Chibok girls and to establish the true leaders of Boko Haram.

    It is believed that money was taken to that country.

    Al-Makura, who made the demands in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ahmed Tukur, said Maku’s vow to open up on the $2.1billion arms deals was an afterthought.

    The statement said: “The beginning of the probe of the arms deals by security agencies must not end without probing those who allegedly collected money in the name of securing the release of Chibok girls and never did.

    “The public will be very much interested in knowing those behind the deals and how they came in contact with those who knew the whereabouts of our girls.

    “Nigerians demand  explanations from Maku as all along as Minister for Information he  had been feeding  the public with evil lies that the war against insurgency was on the right direction while millions of tax payers money were being siphoned to private pockets while he superintended over the Ministry of Defence.”

    The governor said “Maku’s recent outburst that he will soon speak over the $2.1bn arms deal was to draw public sympathy.

    “Maku must provide answers to the failed deals to facilitate the release of the Chibok girls from captivity and also explained why such deals were entered into.”

    The governor challenged Maku to explain his role in the Ombatse and Baba Alakyo crisis which led to the killing of 86 security operatives in the state.

    Al-makura praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to defeating Boko Haram.

    He added: “The signs are already clear that Boko Haram insurgents are on the retreat. I urge all Nigerians, especially the citizens of the North-East to support the President in this patriotic and honest drive to bring lasting peace and move the country forward.”

    Maku had said he would soon speak up on the $2.1bn arms scandal.

    “It is virtually too early for me as a former minister of information to begin to talk about what is going on at the moment.” However, he added that he would make his views known when the right time comes.

    ”I don’t want to comment on this administration now because I was in the previous government as minister of information and our voice was all over the nation. It is too early for me to say anything. The processes that are going on are in the full glare of Nigerians and what I will say is that the media should be very careful. That’s my advice and I will not say anything else.

  • ‘I paid ransom for mother’s release’

    Former Sokoto State governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in the 2011 general elections, Alhaji Yusha’u Ahmed Kebbe, yesterday said he paid ransom for the release of his abducted 75-year-old mother, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed.

    But Kebbe did not disclose the amount he paid for his mother’s release yesterday.

    Hajiya Mohammed was abducted a week ago at 8pm from her home in Kebbe, headquarters of Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    Addressing reporters in Sokoto on the release of his mother, Kebbe said: “I prefer to remain silent on the amount paid to the kidnappers.”

    The politician said his mother was dropped on Zuru Road at 3am at Gadar-Zema, in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    According to him, his mother’s abductors were masked.

    Kebbe said: “It is also true that a 27-year-old man, who was a good Samaritan, was shot dead by the kidnappers as they fled with my mother on motorcycles.”

    The former bank manager, who later joined politics, said his mother’s abductors “never beat nor tortured her”.

    He added: “She is now receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital. She has been hypertensive; they kept her where there was no water.

    “She did not bathe, pray or change clothes for one week while she was in captivity.

    “They (abductors), however, asked us to buy her drugs, and a doctor prescribed some drugs. We texted the names of the drugs to them and they bought the drugs for her.”

    Kebbe hailed Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Governors Aliyu Wamakko and Attahiru Bafarawa, reporters and other Nigerians for standing by him during his mother’s travail.

    The politician noted that their efforts and prayers made it possible for the septuagenarian’s return.

    He accused some unnamed persons for masterminding the kidnap, adding that the abductors said he was a former National Assembly member who stole public funds.

    Kebbe said: “They said I was always taking my family to Dubai. All these are lies. I had never worked for the government, even for a day.”

  • Why I paid ransom to my abductors, by Falae

    Why I paid ransom to my abductors, by Falae

    A former Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, said yesterday that he paid ransom to his abductors before his release last week.

    He provided a shocking detail of how he was starved and made to trek for kilometers.

    The former presidential candidate said he was kidnapped by six Fulani herdsmen last Monday at his Ilado farm in Akure.

    Speaking to reporters at his home in Akure, Chief Falae said the armed hoodlums threatened to kill him every 30 minutes, until they received information that the ransom had been paid.

    He said: “There were six of them with three or four guns and every half an hour or so they will say, ‘Baba we are going to kill you, if you don’t give us money we are going to kill you.

    “On Wednesday, one of them said we are leaving here on Thursday morning. Since we cannot leave you here alone, if we don’t get what we want we are going to kill you.

    “And they said they gave me until 3pm. I thank God that at 21 minutes before 3pm, one of them came and said ‘the money don complete’.”

    Reliving his ordeal, he said: “When the hoodlums came, they slashed me with their cutlasses, they said I was not cooperating. And they dragged me barefooted into the bush.

    “After dragging me around for about two hours, they stopped somewhere for us to rest and there they asked me to phone my wife and tell her that I have been kidnapped and taken out of Ondo State, which was a lie.

    “About 2.30pm on Monday, we started walking with very few stops until 2am the following morning. I guess I must have covered a minimum of 15 kilometers.

    “That morning, I did not take anything. So all day, I had no food, no water and I walked close to 15km. How I survived I cannot really remember. I had no food in my stomach, I had no shoes, my clothes were torn.

    “At a point, one of them gave me a pair of slippers. Later, they called for a motorcycle. The motorcyclist took me away. I had no clue where we were going. Finally, they dumped me somewhere, where I was, until I was released on Thursday.

    “In that place, we all slept on leaves. Unfortunately, it rained in the night and I was drenched. One of them brought a small umbrella to cover my head, but the rest of my body was not.

    “They offered me bread, but I told them I could not eat it. I demanded for a bottle of coke, which was what I drank every day to have energy and to continue with the march, because we were always moving.

    “They were changing locations two to three times a day. I suspect it was to prevent the police from tracing them.”

    The ex-finance minister said although the confirmation of the payment of ransom was made on Wednesday afternoon, he was not allowed to go until Thursday morning.

    “So the following morning, they said I should go. One of them took ropes to stitch my buba, which was tattered.

    “So when I came out of the bush, I found a motorcyclist, who gave me a lift to Owo.

    “The place was about 10km from Owo town. The place was between Owo and Ifon. And I walked to that place. I guess we must have trekked about 25km.

    “Miraculously, I was not tired, I was not hungry and I was not afraid of them at all. Each time they said, ‘Baba we will kill you,’ I will tell them, ‘no, insha Allah, you will not kill me’.

    “I did not break down, but I want to tell you that when I got back home I became completely exhausted.

    “But I am now 80 per cent fit and I know in the next few days I will be 100 per cent again.”

    The 77-year-old warned that such attack should not be allowed to happen again as it could result to even graver consequences.

    “It is not because of me. As for me, I am a very humble person, but by virtue of what God has made me and the status He has given me, it is an insult to our race that a man like me could be abducted by a bunch of hoodlums.”

    He added: “By the way, one of them told me ‘Baba, if after you leave us you talk nonsense I will come and catch you again’. That is the kind of insult I received.”

    Asked if the kidnappers were illiterates, Falae replied: “Only two of them could speak some English. They were between 25 and 35. They were Fulani but they spoke Hausa.”

    Falae said it was likely his ordeal was closely connected to his conflict with Fulani herdsmen, who consistently grazed on his farm.

    “The cattle rearers have been giving me a hard time for the past two or three years. Because I have a dam on the farm, so they like to bring their cattle there to drink water, then they eat my crops.

    “This time they ate up my maize farm. We took pictures, and it was videoed, the police went there. They were asked to pay compensation, they begged and paid half and we accepted it.

    “That was about two months ago. Whether it was one of them who went to bring his brothers to come and deal ‘with this wicked man’, I don’t know. It is plausible.

    “My view is that this is my home. I have not gone to farm on anyone’s territory. This is my home where I was born. I have every right to farm here and live in peace here. So, this is totally unacceptable.

    “I once told the commissioner of police that if he cannot protect us and protect my farm, then I will protect myself. There will be self-help, if government fails to protect its citizens.

    “It would have been unfortunate if that were to happen. The IG met me and assured me that they will give us protection.

    “I hope that we  in Ondo State and in Yoruba land would consult to ensure that we enhance our protection. We cannot be slaves in our own territory.”

    The former SGF said he was not surprised that the police could not trace and arrest the kidnappers because of the manner of their movement and operation.

    “These fellows were permanently on the move. Day and night they were walking. Through farm lands, through water, through swamps…they were scared, they knew they could be traced with GPS, that was why they were running around all the time.

    “I was not surprised at all that the police could not trace them before they decided to let me go.”

     

  • Police uncovers another kidnappers’ den in Oyo

    Police uncovers another kidnappers’ den in Oyo

    … Five suspects arrested

    The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered another kidnappers’ den at Oyagbe area in Oyo town,‎ where different atrocities are committed.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina, who led journalist to the den on Tuesday, disclosed that the place has been a deserted hotel belonging to one Olatunji Kabiru who is now in police custody.‎

    He also stated that the men of the state command had arrested five kidnappers in connection with the kidnappers’ hideout.

    Katsina while parading the suspects added that a victim Husseni Sani was rescued from the den of the kidnappers in Oyo Town area of the state.

    According to him, the Kidnappers had come all the way from Benin Republic and moved to Kwara State and finally settled at the Atiba Local Government of Oyo state.

    He said:” Today (Tuesday) we are happy to announce that a ground breaking discovery was made yet again and this time in Oyo town where some wicked individuals kidnapped a fellow human for ransom. We have so far arrested 5 people connected with the crime including the hotelier, and the victim Saki Fulani is now in our custody.

    The hotelier, Olatunji Kabiru a former counsellor of ward one, Atiba Local Govt of Oyo State, said that the kidnapper had come to him asking for three room for two weeks which he claimed that a deposit of N5,000 was giving to him.

    Kabiru said that he was not aware that they were kidnappers and that he got to know about their activities when the police came knocking at his door step.

    The kidnapped victim, Hussein Sani, a cattle rearer from Ikoyi Ile, Kajoola Local government in Oyo town, said that he had been kidnapped at Ogbomoso and was fed rice and Coke for 14 days.

    He said that the kidnappers had demanded N1million and threatened to kill him and his elder brother if he was unable to pay.

    In his reaction, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, thanked the police and other defense agencies for their swift action at clamping down on the suspected kidnappers.

    He said that the prompt and assertive move of the police contributed immensely to the discovery of the hideout, adding that community members be more careful in their various activities.

    “I thank men of the police and other security agencies, for a job well done for bursting the crimes in this part of the state which is very surprising to us in this area. The prompt actions of the Police contributed to the immense discovery of the kidnappers, I must add that such people should not be allowed to exist in our societies.”

    He however, called on the public to always inform the police when they suspect any unholy activities around their environment.

    “I have to say at this juncture that it is everybody’s duty to be alert over the happens in their environment and keep the police informed about dangerous activities in their environment,” Alaafin said