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Tag: Suspected kidnappers

  • Ondo hunters nab two suspected kidnappers

    Ondo hunters nab two suspected kidnappers

    Hunters in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State have nabbed two suspected kidnappers.

    Items such as firearms, cutlasses, cans of beer, and energy drinks were recovered from the suspects.

    They were said to be members of a kidnap gang operating around the Owo axis.

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    In a viral video, the suspects were seen tied down and questioned about their operations.

    An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the hunters tracked down the suspects in their hideout.

    “The hunters stormed their camp in the forest yesterday. While some of the kidnappers escaped, two of them were caught and brought into town.”

    Spokesman of Ondo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he had seen the video, adding that investigation into the matter had commenced.

    “I saw the video as well, and the command has commenced a thorough investigation,” he said.

  • Youths rescue Redeemed pastor from suspected kidnappers

    Youths and members of vigilance groups at the Benin Technical College (BTC) area yesterday foiled an attempt to abduct the pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ologbosere parish, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The youth, supported by other worshippers, caught three of the suspected kidnappers.

    It was learnt that the suspects began operation about 8am. They robbed residents and worshippers of their money, phones and other valuables, including cars.

    An eyewitness said luck ran out on the suspects when they attempted to kidnap the pastor simply identified as Ayo. They were chased by the youth and other worshippers.

    The witness said the hoodlums abandoned a snatched Camry car behind the Church of God Mission Int’l (CGMI) and went to the Redeemed Christian Church God (RCCG) at Ologbosere Street where they abducted Pastor Ayo.

    The cleric was being taken away in his Nissan Xtera Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked LAGOS: EKY 353 CA when the suspects were apprehended.

    The witness said the worshippers and youths chased the hoodlums until they abandon the pastor inside his vehicle.

  • Police arrest three suspected kidnappers

    Operatives of Operation Puff Adder have arrested three suspected kidnappers- Mohammed Bello, aka Dan Hajia, 42; Suleiman Musa, aka Dan Auta, 38; and Abubakar Bello, aka Abu Kango, 28.

    They recovered from them two Ak47 rifles and 258 rounds of live ammunition of 7.62mm calibre.

    According to a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, the two victims, Ali Abu Sale, male, 34, and Bala Bawa, male, 37, who were kidnapped from their residence at Maijaki village via Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State were rescued on May 1.

    Before they were rescued, the police said the kidnappers demanded N8,000,000 ransom for the two of them.

    Mba said the victims, who were held at two kidnappers’ den, were rescued following a joint tactical rescue mission involving policemen from the Technical Intelligence Unit, Special Tactical Squad and other undercover operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder.

    Ali Abu Sale was rescued at Mai Lamba forest near Lapai, Niger State, while Bala Bawa was rescued at Gada Biu on the outskirts of Abuja.

    Mba, who said the suspects were in the police custody helping in the ongoing investigation, added that one of them, following a gun duel with the operatives, was injured and later died from the gunshot wounds.

    Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu hailed the efforts of the operatives in the rescue of the victims.

    He thanked the public for assisting the police, especially through the supply of credible information in the fight against kidnapping and crimes.

    Adamu said the police would intensify onslaught against kidnappers and other criminals until the battle is won.

  • Suspected kidnappers abduct director in Ekiti

    Suspected kidnappers have abducted the Director of Administration in Gbonyin Local Government Council, Ekiti State, Mr. David Jejelowo.

    The Nation learnt that the director was kidnapped with his driver, whose name was not disclosed.

    Both victims were taken to an unknown destination.

    The latest abduction occurred barely a week after an accountant with Emure Local Government Council, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi, was killed and two other workers were kidnapped on Ise Ekiti-Ikere Ekiti Road.

    The police confirmed the abduction, saying the victims were kidnapped on Monday evening.

    Spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, however, said the driver has been released.

    He said: “The abduction happened on Ado-Ijan Road and involved the director of Administration of Gbonyin Local Government and his driver, but the driver has been released.

    “Our men are working round the clock to ensure that the man (director) is rescued.

    “The driver has been giving us useful information to facilitate the release.” Ikechukwu added that the command was mapping out strategies to arrest kidnappers who, he said, appeared to have found a flourishing business in abducting prominent people for ransom, thereby creating fears among residents.

     

    •Seeks monarchs’ support

    Ekiti State Government will today hold an emergency security council meeting to tackle kidnapping and other crimes, Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi said yesterday.

    Egbeyemi, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, said the meeting is expected to be chaired by Governor Kayode Fayemi, adding that heads of security agencies will be in attendance.

    He said it was to tighten security.

    Egbeyemi, who spoke while receiving members of the Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders in his office in Ado-Ekiti, said the government was taking steps to ensure security of lives and property.

    He said the government was soliciting the support of traditional rulers and chiefs to tackle kidnapping and other crimes.

    The monarchs, led by their spokesman, the Odofinyin

    of Iyin-Ekiti, High Chief Ayodeji Esan, listed a 10-point demand, which included official recognition by the government and their involvement in the maintenance of peace and security in each community.

    They advised the government to involve local hunters and vigilance groups as part of measures to curb kidnapping.

     

  • Police arrest two suspected kidnappers

    Men of the Ondo State Police Command yesterday reportedly arrested two suspected kidnappers.

    The kidnappers, Jahae Mohammed and Jimoh Ahmed, were said to have been arrested at Oba/Ose area in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state by the police special patrol team.

    They were identified as the leaders of the kidnap gang terrorising travellers and people of the community.

    The combined team of police formation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCP) Mudashiru Abudulahai, Area Commander, Iwaro-Akoko, ACP Musiliu O.  Aliu, Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Oba-Akoko.

    It was learnt that no fewer than 87 police men and officers drawn from the Anti-kidnapping squad, Anti-cultist squad, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and men and officers of the Area Command combed the forest reserve at Oba-Akoko for almost five hours.

    The police patrol team, it was learnt, trekked more than 20 kilometres inside the forest reserves along the Oba/ Ose -Akoko road, where the team located two points where the kidnappers operated and were destroyed.

    The kidnappers were said to have fled before the arrival of the security operatives.

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    At the two locations in the thick forest, sources said objects such as clothes suspected to be owned by their victims, shoes and cudgels were recovered.

    Commissioner Olugbenga Adeyanju said the police authority would make the state inhabitable for kidnappers and other criminals.

    He said all police formations across the state have been mandated to double their efforts at making sure that the state is crime free.

    The CP disclosed that special patrol teams were working round the clock to ensure safety of lives and property during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    He urged residents to give useful information to the police.

  • Suspected kidnappers of customs officer nabbed

    The police have arrested seven men who allegedly kidnapped an Assistant Controller of Customs, Mrs Justina Tanko, in Onne, Rivers State.

    The suspected kidnappers were apprehended by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The suspects are:  Zigabari Voonu, 32; Maxwell Barindom, 32, Dele Kunewo-liaga, 35; Tordi Barinaa, 27; Godspower Keenom a.k.a. Immortal, 23; Justice Afangide a.k.a. Max P, 33, and Oludofin Yakubu, 26.

    It was said that Tanko was kidnapped at an unnamed restaurant about 5:30 pm on November 13, and taken to an unknown destination.

    The suspects were identified through technical intelligence deployed by IRT operatives.

    Items recovered from the suspects included, two Ak47 riffles, one pump action gun, operational vehicle and the VW Golf belonging to one of their victims, Chibuike Ezenkwu, who was kidnapped in May 2018.

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    It was learnt that Ezenkwu was killed and thrown into a river, shortly after the suspects collected unspecified amount as ransom from his family members.

    Tanko was said to have been released at about 11:30pm on November 15, 2018, after a ransom of N5million was paid by her family members.

    The suspects were rounded up shortly after the customs woman was freed.

    The suspects, according to police sources, confessed to carrying out robbery operations in Eleme and Gonna Local Government Areas of Rivers State, while they also maintained a stronghold in Biara town in Gokana Local Government Area and Trailer Park in Eleme.

    Zigabari, a member of Degbam cult group, who hails from Ogu-Gbolo council area, was a security guard in the restaurant where Tanko visits regularly, and he was the one who initiated the abduction with his gang.

    Maxwell from Gokana Local Government Area, is also a member of Degbam cult group and a close ally of the gang’s leader. His phone was said to have been used to negotiate ransom with family members of their victims.

    Dele, also from Gokana area of Rivers State, was the one who brought numerous kidnap ‘jobs’ for “Bobo” and his gang.

  • Army arrests suspected kidnappers

    Soldiers attached to 144 Battalion, Ukwa Army Headquarters, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have arrested two suspected robbers and kidnappers operating in Aba and its environs.

    It was gathered that while two other suspected robbers and kidnappers escaped arrest, the soldiers, after conducting a search, found three pistols, cache of yet-to-be expended bullets, a phone, jewellery and cash.

    Sources at the battalion, who gave the ages of the suspects as 31 and 32, said the soldiers also recovered a Toyota Corolla Sports Utility Vehicle, which the hoodlums snatched from the owner on Ehere Road, Ogbor Hill, off Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway.

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  • Police arrest four suspected kidnappers, recover arms in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Police Command said yesterday it had arrested four suspected kidnappers and recovered 16 locally made guns and five cutlasses in Gusau and Shinkafi Local Government Areas of the state.

    SP Muhammad Shehu, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command said in a statement in Gusau that the suspects  were arrested on July 19, by the joint operations patrol of the IGP Special Tactical Squad in conjunction with the command’s tactical teams at various criminal hide-outs in Zawuyya, Badarawa and Birnin-yero Villages in Gusau and Shinkafi local government areas respectively.

    “The suspects arrested were alleged to be engaged in various criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery and culpable homicide, among others,” he said.

    On July 15 the command arrested 72 suspected bandits and kidnappers at some identified criminals hideouts and recovered 73 unregistered motorcycles.

    He said 43 of the 72 have been charged to court, while the remaining 29 were undergoing investigation at the command.

  • Three suspected kidnappers killed in Taraba

    The police in Taraba State have killed three suspected kidnappers in Bali and Takum Local Government Areas, it was learnt yesterday.

    Commissioner of Police David Akinremi said officers stormed the kidnappers’ hideout on Wednesday.

    He said: “The gang had terrorised Bali and Takum councils and keep their victims in a camp at Garuwa.

    “But in this encounter, they fell to the superior fire power of our operatives in a shootout. Three members of the gang died and others escaped with injuries.

    “One AK-47 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition, a single barrel rifle with five live cartridges and some charms were recovered from the bandits.”

    Akinremi urged the public to report any persons with bullet wounds to the police station.

  • Three suspected kidnappers killed in Taraba

    The Taraba State Police Command yesterday said it had killed three suspected kidnappers who had been terrorising residents of Bali and Takum local government areas.

    In a statement in Jalingo, the state capital, Police Commissioner David Akinremi said officers of the command attached to Bali Division stormed the hideout of a gang of kidnappers on Wednesday and shot three of them dead.

    He said: “The criminal gang has terrorised and kidnapped a number of persons around Bali and Takum local government areas, using a camp in Garuwa village in Bali to keep their victims.

    “In this encounter, they fell to the superior fire power of our operatives in a shootout. Three members of the gang died in the shootout while others escaped with gunshot injuries.

    “One AK-47 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition, one single-barrelled rifle with five live cartridges and some charms were recovered from the bandits.”

    The commissioner added that clothings, suspected to belong to some of their victims, were also recovered.

    Akinremi urged the public to report persons with bullet injuries to the nearest police station for possible arrest and prosecution.

    He expressed appreciation to the residents for their continued support for the crime fighting efforts of the police.