The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ransom

  • Nnewi market leader still missing after paying ransom

    • Police foil another kidnap attempt in Onitsha

     

    The kidnapped Vice President of the Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Chief Gozie Akudolu, known as Iroko, kidnapped at his resident, Umuanuka , Otolo Nnewi at about 9:30 pm on Wednesday 25th of October, 2012, is yet to be released.

    A statement from the Publicity Secretary of the Union, Dede Uzor A Uzor, had appealed to the state police commissioner, Mr Ballah Nasarawa, to swing into action to facilitate his immediate release.

    He said three gunmen had accosted the victim, pushed him into his SUV Jeep and drove off.

    Information available to The Nation yesterday said the families of Akudolu had paid a ransom but did not disclose the amount paid but his captors are not budging.

    But the Campaign for Democracy (CD) South East zone yesterday in a release raised alarm over the health and safety of  the kidnapped market leader at Nnewi , Chief Gozie Akudolu.

    CD appealed to the state Commissioner for Police, Balah Nasarawa, to within three days from the time of the release effect the rescue of the kidnapped bizman or the traders in the state will close down the market in protest.

    This is coming as a kidnap attempt was foiled on Sunday at about 1130Hrs at Fegge, Onitsha .

     

    A police team accosted the kidnappers at Upper Iweka by Ekene Dili Chukwu Motor park and engaged them in a shoot-out. One man, suspected to be the victim, forcefully opened the booth of the vehicle and ran away.

    Eye witness and police source told The Nation that the kidnappers could not withstand the police confrontation as they abandoned their car and scampered into Iweka Road and snatched another Red Coloured Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. KSF 605 AH belonging to one DSP. Felix Okochi of FCID attached to CPS  Nnewi.

    Seven expended empty shells of AK. 47 ammunitions were recovered from the scene and the abandoned vehicle.

    Later at about 1230hrs of same day, one Chief Lawrence Ozoamalu of same address reported to Fegge Division and confirmed that the victim, one Ifeanyi Ozoamalu of No. 6B Olu Street Fegge is his son and the car used by the kidnappers belongs to the victim. That he was kidnapped while returning from church with him. Effort is on top gear to track down the hoodlums.

    The divisional police officer, Fegge CSP John Mark confirmed the report to newsmen in Onitsha even as the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Ralphael Uzoigwe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police insisted that no stone would be left untouched in rescuing the bizman and all others still held. He assured that the police is re-strategizing to nip future plans in the bud.

  • Kidnappers of journalist’s wife demand N10m ransom

    The kidnappers of Mrs. Marian Onoyume, wife of Mr. Jimitota Onoyume of Vanguard, are demanding N10 million ransom.

    Marian was abducted on Monday at Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State by four gunmen.

    She was taking their two daughters to school at 7:30am in a Nissan Quest car, when the hoodlums accosted her.

    Sources said the gunmen threw the children out of the car and drove the woman away.

    It was learnt that the car had been recovered, but Marian’s whereabouts remain unknown.

    Onoyume, who is based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has appealed to the kidnappers to release his wife unconditionally.

    Yesterday, he said: “The kidnappers phoned me with my daughter line and demanded N10 million ransom. I pleaded with them that I have never held a million naira before.

    “They said I was a rich man because I drive a Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). I told them the vehicle was bought fairly used and it is a 1995 model.

    “I begged them to release my wife. I am a reporter and journalists are not known to be rich. We may be seen on television, but we are only doing our job. They later said I should send MTN airtime, which I did.

    “My wife’s car has been recovered. It was abandoned at Abraka. I am begging the kidnappers to have mercy on us and release my wife. We do not have money. I am a reporter.”

    Onoyume said his daughters were traumatised by the incident.

    Delta police Spokesman Charles Amuka had earlier assured the journalist that the police would secure his wife’s release soon.

     

  • Cross River: Children’s kidnappers reduce ransom to N5m

    The two children, a boy and a girl, who were abducted in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, by masked gunmen on Tuesday morning, are still missing.

    Emmanuel (10) and Agbo (4) were snatched on the Murtala Mohammed Road while their mother, Mrs. Juliet Eko, was taking them to school.

    Their father, Mr. Johnson Eko, said: “My wife and our three children were driving out of our street into the highway when some people in a Vento salon car accosted her and used their car to block my wife’s car.

    “They came out and pointed a gun at my wife. They asked for her phone and she gave it to them. Then they picked up our four-year old daughter.

    “The elder brother, Emmanuel, questioned why they were taking his sister away and they took him too. It was at that point that the third child, aged seven, ran out of the car and headed towards the house.”

    He said his wife begged the gunmen to take her car, a Toyota Sienna, and leave her children, but they ignored her.

    Eko, a civil servant with the Cross River State Civil Service, said the kidnappers phoned on Tuesday afternoon and demanded N30 million ransom.

    The matter was reported at the Federal Housing Estate Police Station.

    A source close to the family said the kidnappers have reduced their demand to N5 million.

    The source said the kidnappers have been contacting the family on Mrs. Eko’s phone.

    The source said Eko was allowed to speak with his son, Emmanuel, who said they were okay.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers said the children’s safety could not be guaranteed, if the ransom was not paid by yesterday evening.

    Police spokesman John Umoh said: “At this point, the information we have is not for the public. Making it public might hamper a lot of things.”

    He said they were on the kidnappers’ trail.