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Tag: Suspected kidnappers

  • We got N14.8m as ransom in three months – Suspected kidnappers

    We got N14.8m as ransom in three months – Suspected kidnappers

    Suspected kidnappers of a Redeemed Christian Church of God  (RCCG) pastor at Ikorodu yesterday said they made N14.8 million ransom from three victims within three months.

    Martins Kowei, 34, Lawyer Repo, 20,  Pleasure George, Bamidele Blessing, 26, Monday Lucky, Hope Tamwell, Monday Uyakumig, Saby Dandi and Gadilo Agbajo who were arrested at a hotel in Ijede while planning to kidnap a hotelier claimed poverty forced them into the crime.

    The gang,it was learnt, also kidnapped Otunba Lateef Ogunfowora, owner of LatOgun Petroleum in Ijebu Ode.

    They disclosed that they got N6million, N5million and N3.5million from kidnapping an expatriate and two others at separate occasions in Lagos and Ogun states.

    The suspects who were paraded by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, were said to have had in their possession, two AK47 rifles and six AK47 magazines and 51 rounds of live ammunition, as well as military camouflages which they used for their operations.

    Confessing to the crimes, Agbajo, who denied being the gang leader said he was only responsible for sharing the loots in the bush.

    He said: “When some of my friends who did not have work and could not pay their house rents come to meet me for help, I assist them.

    “When I was introduced into kidnapping by Blessing Bamidele, the first person we kidnapped was a white man. After that, Bamidele always called me anytime he had an operation. We later kidnapped a man in Ijebu Ode, one at Epe and another at Gberigbe side.

    “We got N6m from one, N5m from another and N3.8 from the third victim. I am not the leader of the group like my other colleagues said. Bamidele Blessing introduced me to the work. I got N1.2m in one.”

    Continuing, Agbajo said they usually got their army camouflages from his brother-in-law, a soldier, but added that the said soldier knew nothing about their operations.

    “We also hid our guns inside the bush after each operation,” he said.

    But Bamidele denied introducing Agbajo to kidnapping, insisting that the latter was the kingpin.

    He said: “I have been living at Ijebu-Ode for one year. Agbajo introduced me into kidnapping. He leads the group and shared every money we made. I was an oil vandal before I became a kidnapper.”

    Bamidele, an Ondo state indigene and father of three children said he used his share of the loot to buy a house.

    “We started by kidnapping a white man, then two other people in a space of three months, we actually got paid a total of N14.8 million. I was not incharge of sharing. It was Gaifo (another suspect). I got N1.9m from the first N6million and used it to buy house. It was frustration that led me into the crime. We normally share our proceeds inside the bush.”

    But to George, the group had a boss higher than Agbajo, whom they called OC (leader) of the water group.

    He said they rarely saw the said OC, but added that he usually provided the guns used for the operations.

    George said: “We don’t just see him anyhow. He usually came to the area only when he wanted to see his wife. One day, he sent one of his boys to deliver the guns to us and we started our operations.

    “We only go to him to give him his share of the ransom. Out of the N6m we got from one of our last operations, we gave him N1.5m. His share varies according to how much we make.”

    Parading the suspects, Owoseni said: “They have confessed to various crime of vandalism, kidnapping and Armed Robbery, They kidnapped a Pastor (name withheld) and two other men (names withheld). Two Ak47 rifles with six AK47 magazines were recovered from them. Also a Toyota Camry car and military camouflage were recovered from them.

  • Suspected kidnappers abandon Nigerian kids in Benin Republic

    Suspected kidnappers abandon Nigerian kids in Benin Republic

    Two unnamed children suspected to have been abducted in Nigeria by unknown persons have been sighted in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    The children, according to a source, were found roaming the streets of Cotonou, penultimate Friday.

    The kids said they were looking for their grandmother when accosted by concerned residents of the francophone town.

    It was learnt that the minors revealed that their abductors asked them to find their way to their grandmother.

    Their explanation, according to the source suggested that they were kidnapped from their grandmother’s residence in Nigeria.

    The source, disclosed that the minors have since been taken to a police station in Tokpa Market, Cotonou, while efforts are on to locate their parents.

    ”The two kids were roaming aimlessly in the neighbourhood for several hours until some residents accosted them during which it emerged that they were actually ‘stolen’ from Nigeria to Cotonou by some identified persons.

    ”They revealed that they were abandoned by their captors on sighting some gendarmes and told to ask people for direction to their grandmother’s place,” the source added.

  • Imo pulls down homes of suspected kidnappers

    Imo pulls down homes of suspected kidnappers

    Imo State Government Thursday demolished houses belonging to suspected kidnappers who were arrested by the Police in the recent onslaught against kidnapping and other heinous crimes by the State Police Command.

    In the operation tagged “Operation Osheebe” led by the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere and the State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu and the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Kay Isiyaku,  over ten houses were pulled down the in Ohuba, an agrarian community in Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of the State.

    According to Police sources, most of the kidnap incidents in the State is coordinated from a massive forest located in the community, where the victims are kept in connivance with the villagers who conceal the information from security agents.

    According to the Deputy Governor, the operation was in line with the determination of the State government to give priority to the security of life and property of the people living in the State.

    He said that the State government will not rest on its oars until those behind the unwholesome acts of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes are brought to book.

    Madumere who was shocked by the massive buildings owned by the kidnappers, said that the demolition exercise is a strategy that will have a lasting effects in the minds of the people so serve as a deterrent to others.

    He noted that it will be an unpardonable error on the part of the government if it allows those known for ill gotten wealth to continue to show off with their wealth, adding that, “such will be contradicting the cherished value and the very foundation of the society”.

    The Commissioner of Police, in his speech, noted that the strategy of demolishing the homes of criminals and their accomplices will send a warning signal that whosever indulges in crime and those abating and protecting them will not go unpunished.

     

  • Traders protest alleged cover-up of suspected kidnappers

    Traders protest alleged cover-up of suspected kidnappers

    •Investigation ongoing, say police

    Some Alaba International Market traders yesterday stormed an eatery, Tank and Tummy, in Second Rainbow, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, to protest the police’s alleged attempt to cover up some suspected kidnappers.

    Their protest followed Monday’s arrest of the suspects who had allegedly attempted to kidnap a businessman, Emeka Mmozoba at the eatery.

    The protesters led by one Edwin Umeze carried placards with inscriptions “N110 million interlocking money” and alleging that those sitting on the money are not above the law.

    They described the suspects and their sponsors as evil doers and accused them of obstructing peace in the market.

    Umeze said: “They have committed several atrocities in the past without being punished. This time around they attempted to kidnap our chairman but luckily the police arrived on the scene on time and now, all we are demanding is that the police should carry out thorough investigation about the matter. There is no need rushing to charge them to court without proper investigation.”

    Gun wielding policemen broke the protest by shooting into the air and throwing tear gas canisters at the crowd.

    In the ensuing melee, several persons were injured.

    Mmozoba, Chairman of Fancy and Furniture Dealers Association, was said to have noticed the suspected kidnappers around his tinted bus while inside the eatery.

    As he was wondering why the men were peeping into his bus, some of them were said to have hurriedly moved towards the eatery. He quickly fled to the restroom from where he contacted his friends and security personnel.

    The Nation gathered that the five suspected kidnappers scrutinised customers’ faces on entering the eatery, prompting the manager to alert policemen at the nearby Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station to what was happening.

    Three of them were said to have left before the police arrived; the other two, who allegedly tried to force the toilet door open were apprehended.

    On their way to the station, the businessman was said to have identified a passerby as one of those he saw earlier peeping into his car and the suspect was also arrested.

    At the station, the police discovered that the suspects were traders in Alaba, fuelling speculations that the market is full of criminals.

    Area E Commander Chris Owolabi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the matter was still being investigated and also dismissed claims of plan to charge the suspects to court yesterday.

    When contacted, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said there was a distress call about an attempted kidnap and some people were arrested.

    She said investigation was ongoing, stating that the suspects are Chibuzor Nwokedi, Silas Umeh and Uwabugwu Elvis.

  • Police arrest suspected kidnappers

    Police arrest suspected kidnappers

    The Kogi State Police Command has arrested the suspected abductors of three students of the Kogi State Polytechnic and rescued the victims.

    The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Emmanue Ojukwu, who disclosed this yesterday in Lokoja while parading 23 suspects, including the suspected kidnappers, said that the state command was determined to weed out criminal elements from the state.

    He explained that the three students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Osara campus, Musa Avosuahi Sefiat (female), Isaac Oaikhena (mail) and Ojo Ayodele (mail), were kidnapped on October 12, 2015 at about 1900 hours (7:00 p.m.) near their campus while observing their prayers.

    He stated that through intelligence report, men from the state command rescued the three abducted students from the kidnappers’ hideout along Gadabiu-Kabba junction, Obajana Road, adding that the suspected criminal elements were identified as Fulani.

    The CP stated that one suspect, Ibrahim Jibo, was arrested in the area where they came to collect ransom and will assist the police in apprehending others now at large.

    Also paraded were 13 armed robbery suspects arrested at different locations in the state, including Juli Sheidu, Muhammadu Sule, James Adaje, Godwin Ekeji, Yalabu Usman, Musa Dalisu, Monday Adejoh, Emmanuel Sunday, Sesan Bolorunduro, Deola Adekunle, David Sesan and Muyiwa Ekundayo.

    Others arrested in connection with illegal manufacturing of firearms and membership of criminal gangs and thuggery include Ojo Alih, Ojo Sunday, Abdullahi Haruna, Aminu Omale, Elias Onade, Yunusa Godday, Christopher Emmanuel, Onalo Egbunu, Umoru Isah and Achor Hassan.

    He said that all the suspected criminals would be charged to court.

    The police boss warned that the command would not rest on its oars until criminal elements were flushed out of Kogi State.

  • Police arrest 201 suspected kidnappers

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday said it arrested 201 persons suspected to be kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists within the last six months.

    The Commissioner of Police, Umar Gwadabe, gave the figure while briefing reporters at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo.

    Gwadabe said the command also recovered six stolen vehicles from robbers and five laptop computers belonging to the University of Uyo from Sifonabasi Etim, a native of Idoro village, Uyo.

    According to the police chief, two suspects, Sunday Egba of Idum-Mbube village, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State and Samuel Sampson of Ndiya village, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State were arrested with three Toyota Camry with multiple registration numbers.

    Gwadabe said 32 unregistered motorcycles suspected to have been stolen were recovered by the command within the last six months.

    Arms and ammunition recovered are: one AK-47 rifle; five AK-47 rifle magazines; 12 locally made pistols; three locally made single barrel guns; one English made double barrel gun and two toy guns.

    Others are 101 rounds of 7.2mm live ammunition; 60 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition; five rounds of 9.mm live ammunition and 179 catridges.

    Gwadabe told reporters that the command rescued persons falsely accused of witchcraft.

    His word: “On several occasions, our men were called upon to rescue vulnerable persons like women, children and the elderly, who were falsely accused of being witches, and who were tortured .

    “A case was the rescue of two male children– Mmenyene (nine) and Samuel (six), who were branded as wizards in a village called Ikot Obio Asanga.

    “They were rescued in a toilet having been locked up for 14 days without food and water.

    “This followed a so-called prophesy that the children were wizards and responsible for the misfortune that had befallen the family. Those involved, the father and a prophetess have been charged to court.”

  • Four suspected kidnappers arraigned in Delta

    Four people allegedly involved in the abduction of Delta State Higher Education Commissioner, Prof Hope Eghagha, were on Friday arraigned before an Asaba Chief Magistrate Court.

    Eghagha, who spent 15 days in the kidnappers’ den, was abducted at Owa-Ekei junction on the Abraka-Asaba expressway in September last year while on his way to Asaba to attend the Independence Day church service.

    The commissioner’s orderly was killed while his driver sustained severe injuries.

    Those arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sylvester Ehikwe were 21-year-old Dennis Iyayi, 34-year-old Odiri Uyovosisuohwo, 36-year-old Roland Briggs and 24-year-old Tina Okome, the only female among them.

    Although the two-charge of conspiracy to kidnap and unlawful kidnap and imprisonment of Prof. Eghagha, preferred against the suspects were read to them, their plea were not taken before Ehikwe adjourned the matter to January 31.

    Ehikwe, however, ordered that the three male suspects should be remanded at Ogwashi-Uku Prisons while the female suspect should be remanded in Agbor Prisons.

    Meanwhile, the Treasurer of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Delta State University, Abraka chapter, Mr. Martins Denedo has regained freedom after three days in the den of his abductors.

    Denedo was seized by about eight gunmen at the gate of his residence in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA at about 1.am on January 1 while returning from church after the New Year Eve service.

    A family source said in Asaba on Friday that the victim was released at about 2.am along the Aboh-Orogun Road.

    He added that the police in Abraka division killed three suspects and arrested two during the rescue operation.

     

  • Police arrest suspected kidnappers of Nollywood actress

    Police arrest suspected kidnappers of Nollywood actress

    The Imo State Police Command, on Monday, disclosed that it has arrested four suspects, who played key roles in the abduction of Nollywood actress and Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Public Affairs, Nkiru Sylvanus.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta, who made the disclosure at the police headquarters, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said the state is now a graveyard for kidnappers and criminals.

    The command paraded 20 other suspects who were arrested over various crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and arson.

    Also paraded were four suspects who kidnapped the four year old daughter of the publicity secretary of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Blyden Amajirionwu.

    While parading the suspects Bolanta said three teams of police operatives carried out a serious man hunt for Nkiru’s kidnappers and eventually arrested the four suspects, Okoro basil, Stella Opara, Festus Olegeme and Chijioke Chima at their hideout at Imerienwe in Ngor Okpalla LGA.

    He said the suspects in their separate statements had confessed to the crime, adding that they implicated Chinedu Okoro alias Mopol, Ifeanyi Onyekwe alias Alaye, Ezekwem Onyekwe and Ifeanyi (surname held) as the main kidnappers of the Nollywood actress.