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Tag: Abduction

  • Abduction: Gov.Bagudu visits school, pledges support to security agencies

    Abduction: Gov.Bagudu visits school, pledges support to security agencies

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi on Friday night pledged to support security agencies in the fight against banditry across the state.
    Bagudu gave the pledge while addressing parents, staff and students of Federal Government College (FGC) Birnin Yauri, during a sympathy visit to the college.
    The governor assured that his administration would leave no stone unturned until all the abducted persons were rescued, adding that ensuring the security of life and property was paramount.
    “As a government, we shall not rest until all students and teachers abducted by bandits from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, are rescued, while additional security would be provided to all institutions of learning”, he assured.
    Bagudu,on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari,sympathised with the staff and students of the college, just as he commended security agencies in the state for their quick response that led to the rescue of some of the abducted students and teachers.
    The governor also commended parents and guardians for remaining calm and sustaining prayers to God for His intervention.
    In separate remarks, the parents and teachers of the student expressed gratitude to security agencies for their prompt response in rescuing some of the abducted staff and students.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some teachers and students of the institution were abducted by suspected kidnappers on Thursday.
    However, a statement issued by the military headquarters in Abuja on Friday, indicated that two teachers and five students had been rescued.
    Spokesperson of Kebbi State Police Command, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, said in a statement that the number of those abducted in the school,was yet to be ascertained, adding that rescue operation was still continuing.
    NAN reports that before departure from Yauri, the governor visited Yauri General Hospital to sympathise with victims of another attack by bandits.
    He also paid homage to the Emir of Yauri at his palace, and assured that the state government had increased security presence in the area.
    Responding, the Emir, Dr Muhammadu Zayyanu-Abdullahi commended the governor for placing priority on security matters..
  • Islamiyya school abduction: We are averse to payment of ransom – Niger Govt

    Islamiyya school abduction: We are averse to payment of ransom – Niger Govt

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Sani Idris has said the state in its usual practice is averse to payment of ransom and the abduction of Islamiyya school students too is not going to be an exception.
    In a report monitored by TNG on national television, the commissioner said “in this particular case we will negotiate with them but no payment of ransom.
    Asked whether he is aware of moves by the parents of the abductees to raise the ransom, Mohammed said” all I can say is that we are averse to it but we have our strategy which we can not disclose to the media.
    Some of the parents that spoke on the issue said they do not have a choice than to think of a way to raise the money.
    They claimed the fee they pay to the owner of the school was N200 monthly because it was more of a charity thing to help them.
    Bandits last Sunday had kidnapped students of the Islamiyya school initially demanding for N300m but later reduced it to N110m after parents pleaded for understanding.
  • Buhari issues order on abduction of students from Niger school

    Buhari issues order on abduction of students from Niger school

    President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the nation’s security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts towards the recovery of the 200 children kidnapped from an Islamic school in Niger State.

    DAILY POST had reported that bandits attacked Islamiyya School at Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State at the weekend and kidnapped about 200 students, killing one person and critically injuring another during the operation.

    A statement by Garba Shehu, the President’s mouthpiece, said that his principal received briefing on the latest incident of school kidnapping and condemned it.

    Garba Shehu said that Buhari urged all the agencies involved in the rescue operation to do their utmost in securing their immediate release.

    “He [Buhari]also directed the concerned government agencies to extend possible support to the families of the kidnapped children,” Shehu said.

  • Man reports abduction of seven Rivers travelers on radio

    Man reports abduction of seven Rivers travelers on radio

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have seized a commercial bus with seven passengers on its way to Omoku in Rivers State.

    The gunmen were said to have invaded the bus on Sunday around 8pm and whisked the passengers to an unknown destination.

    A relation of one of the victims, who gave his name simply as Kennedy, while reporting the occurrence on a Radio Station, 92.3 Nigeria Info, in Port Harcourt said, his brother and other passengers in the vehicle left Port Harcourt for Omoku around 7pm on Sunday.

    He stated, “They left Port Harcourt for Omoku around 7pm; I called by 8pm and my brother’s phone was switched off.

    “I kept trying the line but it was not reachable; later, a number called me and said I should bring N1.5m and I said: ‘From where’? The caller immediately switched off the phone as I asked the question.”

    He called urged security agencies and state government to intervene and rescue his brother and the other victims, adding that the family did not have the kind of money the kidnappers were demanding.

     

  • Nigeria should shut down should another school abduction occur – Soyinka

    Nigeria should shut down should another school abduction occur – Soyinka

    Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Saturday warned Nigerians against accepting kidnapping of school children in parts of the north as a way of life.

    Soyinka who lamented that the government and security agencies have failed Nigerians, said he did not know what else to recommend as panacea to the nation’s “abnormal times.”

    The octogenarian playwright spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the ANA Ogun award lecture and public presentation of ‘Chronicles of the happiest people on earth,’ the latest book authored by him.

    The event was put together by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Ogun State chapter in collaboration with Abeokuta Club.

    The 524 page book was launched by foremost indigenous entrepreneur and industrialist, Chief Olatunde Abudu, at the occasion which also witnessed the conferring “The Greatest Author Icon” award on Wole Soyinka by Ogun ANA.

    He noted that events such as public presentation of a book should propagate the positives in existence and prime people to come together as productive and determined human beings for the betterment of humanity.

    Soyinka said: “It is important that we remind ourselves and stress that these are abnormal times but it seems to me any way as times of shirking of responsibilities in key areas. We can not permit ourselves to accept the child hostage taking as a way of life, we just can not continue in this fashion, some thing drastic and meaningful has to take place and it has to be collective.

    “This is no longer the responsibility of those at the top, in charge of security, in charge of governance they have clearly failed the populace, they have failed us, there is no point trying to reason it up, trying to give an excuse, putting blame or whatever. The important thing is that we are very close to accepting a culture of the unacceptable.

    “A few years ago at FUNAAB I accepted an honorary doctorate, I did warn that I was tired of this awards, let me just put this way, awards becomes burdensome and I said at the time, this is the last doctorate i will be accepting from any institution and I am accepting this one only because it is our own award and I warned them that they should all bear me witness that anytime I would be declining another award I would tell them go and ask them in Abeokuta, I have already made a statement and i must keep to it otherwise I won’t be allowed to return to Abeokuta.

    “Events like this for me propagate the positive in existence, I think we are obliged some how to swallow our pride and come together as productive and determined human beings especially as a community.

    “Has it got to be COVID – 19 that we take stringent actions, is it going to be an abnormality like COVID – 19 that compels us to shut down if necessary and I mean shut down, I think we are reaching the point where in any State where any child is kidnapped that State should shut down completely and other states in sympathy, solidarity should shut down some of their activities, we should not wait for an enemy faceless, airbone unpredictable enemy like COVID – 19 to shut down, to make us shut down, to say in protest and as a statement of the unacceptable we are shutting ourselves down until this situation is resolved

    “I think we have reached the point where when our children are taking away from us we should as least for some time shut down, it sounds extreme but we don’t know what else one can propose at this particular time, yes life must go on but even those activities will generate and enhance our very existence. I think we have to take on a tonality of regrets, of the unacceptable, protestation and mobilisation on whatever level it is possible as a community of human beings.

    “It is not either a day of too much negativity but we are paying a price and consequence with permanence of those scars in our collective psyche that is what worries me.This movement towards accepting as a way of life the absence of the young generation compelled, enforced and forced absence of our own children.”

  • Zamfara bandits I met not responsible for Jangebe school girls abduction – Gumi

    Zamfara bandits I met not responsible for Jangebe school girls abduction – Gumi

    Kaduna based Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reacted to the latest abduction in Zamfara State.

    The cleric said abductors of the Zamfara schoolgirls were not the bandits he recently engaged with in Zamfara forests.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the bandits stormed Government Secondary School Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area around 1 am Friday and abducted over 300 female students.

    Zamfara Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, confirmed the abduction to News Agency of Nigeria but could not confirm the number of the students abducted as at press time.

    However, Gumi, in a short telephone interview with The Nation, said the abduction was carried out by a splinter group of the Zamfara bandits.

    The Islamic scholar, who appeared to have reached out to the bandit leaders he recently met, stated categorically “They are not the ones that abducted the girls. It is a splinter group.”

    When asked whether he would be going to Zamfara to meet the bandits for talks and plea for release of the school girls, Sheikh Gumi simply said, “maybe”.

    Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the abduction. The command said that about three-hundred and seventeen (317) students were abducted from the Government Girls Science Secondary School Jangebe in Jangebe, Zamfara State.

    The Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Abutu Yaro said a joint search and rescue operation is already underway with a view to rescuing the 317 students kidnapped by the marauders.

  • How we will secure abducted Niger school students, others – Defence Minister

    How we will secure abducted Niger school students, others – Defence Minister

    Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi has assured that the school children kidnapped in Niger state by armed bandits will be rescued, saying the government will adopt the same strategy it used to rescue the school children earlier kidnapped in Katsina.

    Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the screening of Service Chiefs by the House of Representatives, Magashi said the service chiefs will swing into action immediately they are through with the screening exercise by the lawmakers and track down the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the children.

    He said “we have demonstrated our ability to take on the challenge. We have done it in Katsina; when children were kidnapped, within two days, we got them back. Hopefully, this time, we will do the same (thing) to get this these captives back. We are planning.

    “We have not got a feedback on the activities going on in Niger State. But I am confident that before the end of the day, we will be given a full brief on what is going on in Niger State”.

    While insisting that Nigerians have a responsibility to ensure there is adequate security, the Minister said “Well, is it not the responsibility of the military alone? It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and ensure safety when necessary.

    “We shouldn’t be cowards. Sometimes the bandits come with about three rounds of ammunition and when they fire shots everybody will run. In our younger days, we stand to fight any form of aggression.

    “Why should people run away from minor, minor aggression? We should stand and face them. If these people know that the people have the competence and capability to defend themselves, they will run away.”

    The Minister however said government will ensure no Nigerian is hurt and will protect the territorial integrity of the county.

    The Minister also dismissed clamour for Nigerians to be allowed to bear arms to defend themselves, saying “It is an issue currently even in the developed country. They are still debating on whether to continue (to allow people bear arms) or stop. But I don’t advice Nigerians to bear fire arms for internal use.”

    Answering question on the merit of the nomination of the former Service Chiefs as ambassadors, he said “You should understand the efforts the service chiefs put in for this country. When they came in 2015, you could see the applause, people accepted them and they were doing this nation proud.

    “They captured virtually all the areas under the control of the terrorists and their only fault is probably because they stayed long and we know that Nigerians always don’t want people to stay long because of obvious reasons. But I think they have done their best and I believe they are capable and competent to take any other assignment.”

  • Abduction of schoolboys on my visiting day to Katsina meant to embarrass my administration – Buhari

    Abduction of schoolboys on my visiting day to Katsina meant to embarrass my administration – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the abduction of 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, was targeted at embarrassing his administration.

    Buhari made the statement when he met with the rescued Kankara students and representatives of their parents at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Katsina.

    The president, who spoke in Hausa, said it was not a coincidence that the bandits struck on the very day he visited his home town, Daura after about 18 months.

    He explained that his trip to Daura had become necessary in view of the fact he last visited home 18 months ago, disclosing that he planned to retire to the town after completing his second term in May, 2023.

    “I normally visit my home town because I swore by the holy Quran that I will safeguard the nation’s constitution, hence I must hand over power on May 29, 2023 to the next government.

    “So, if God spares my life, I’ll definitely come home. This informed my visits home.’’

    Buhari vowed to leave behind a stable and prosperous nation by the end of his administration.

    The president thanked God for sparing the lives of all the 344 rescued students, urging them to put behind them their ordeals in the hands of the bandits.

    He called on the students to take their studies seriously to enable them accomplish their missions in life.

    Buhari said that he was at the Katsina Government House to rejoice with the students on their release from captivity, saying that government would do all it could to prevent future occurrence of the incident.

    The president lauded Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State for his untiring efforts in ensuring the release of the abducted students.

    He also commended security officials involved in the rescue operation.

    The president reminded those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property of citizens to bear in mind that they would also be judged by God after their earthly sojourn.

    Buhari, however, said the military and other security agencies still had a lot to do to secure the country and its citizens.

    “This is their job. They signed for it. Whether they like it or not, they will have to provide security for the country,’’ the president stated.

    In his remarks, Masari suggested that the security architecture in the country should be upgraded to ensure safety of citizens, assuring that the “kidnap of school children will never happen again’’.

    The governor said the release of the children was through collaborations, negotiations and discussions, thanking the president for consistently supporting the process, creating time for regular updates and taking actions when needed.

    Buhari had since departed Katsina State after his week-long visit to Daura, his country home.

    Masari and the Deputy Governor of Katsina, Mr Mannir Yakubu, were among dignitaries, who bid the president farewell at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport, Katsina.

  • NDDC Crisis: Why I stopped Nunieh’s ‘abduction’ by over 50 police officers from IG’s monitoring team – Wike

    NDDC Crisis: Why I stopped Nunieh’s ‘abduction’ by over 50 police officers from IG’s monitoring team – Wike

    Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has explained he intervened in the alleged police invasion of the residence of a former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr Joy Nunieh to save her from abduction.

    Wike, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communucation, Paulinus Nsirim, called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate the saga.

    He said it was expedient to probe why over 50 armed policemen stormed the Port Harcourt residence of Nunieh at 4am on Thursday.

    He insisted he was on ground to frustrate the attempted abduction and berated the self-styled armed policemen, who claimed to be members of the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.

    The Governor said under a civilised society, the proper thing to do was to invite her to answer to any allegation.

    He said: “But to storm her residence at such an unholy hour suggests some sinister motive that should not be tolerated.

    “What has happened today is a disgrace. Who knows what would have happened to her if they had gained access to her main room? I went there personally to see things for myself and rescued her.

    “She is supposed to testify before the House of Representatives Committee and here we are having armed men wanting to abduct her.

    “We came out to protect our daughter and we will do so to every Rivers citizen. That is the oath of office I swore to. It doesn’t matter the political affiliation. We will not allow anybody to destroy Rivers state.

    “It is so unfortunate and I cry for this country concerning the ways things are going. They didn’t have a warrant of arrest, but would storm somebody’s house, in fact, the State Commissioner of Police is not aware.

    ” So, tell me how something will happen in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? They said it’s the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.

    “So, we have such a unit taking over the responsibility of crime fighting in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? I can also assume too that the Inspector General of Police is not aware. He should investigate it”.

    The Governor also called on his colleagues in the NDDC to ensure that their citizens did not have a hand in the planned abduction of the former Managing Director of NDDC.

    He said: “If there is any allegation of crime against her, I will not back her but you can’t kill her for no established crime. I don’t know who’s responsible but whoever is behind it should not take Rivers state for granted because we will fight back.

    “From what has happened now, I want to say that Rivers State is fully out. Anybody who is responsible for this attempted abduction of our daughter, should know that enough is enough.

    “They can’t treat her as a common criminal. I am sure that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of this.

    “All the Niger Delta States should find out if any of their citizens have a hand in the unfortunate incident and call on such people to leave our daughter alone. She is no longer the Managing Director of NDDC.

    “The way things are going now, it seems people want to destroy Rivers State and it is unacceptable.

    “Using the police to carry out abduction of citizens should not be encouraged. A similar incident had happened in this state before when they wanted to use the same style to abduct a serving Judge”.

    Nunieh, who thanked Wike for coming to her rescue, said the armed policemen came about 4am, broke into her premises but were stopped by the security door leading to her main room.

    She said: “Those who told me the Commissioner of Police was downstairs lied because it was his deputy that actually came.

    “I opened the door and they wanted to grab me. I pushed back the door and locked it and went upstairs.

    “So, my Governor came, asked them for the warrant of arrest and why they did not invite me to the police station instead of attempting to abduct a woman like a criminal.

    “The Governor took me away in his car and I am taking refuge in Government House. I want to thank His Excellency for keeping to his word that nothing should happen to a daughter of Rivers State.

    “I was supposed to be going to Abuja today to make my submission before the Committee of the House of Representatives. I am sure the motive was to stop me”.

  • Delta doctors set date to commence strike over abduction of colleague at General Hospital

    Delta doctors set date to commence strike over abduction of colleague at General Hospital

    Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta state chapter are set to commence a phased strike over the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Wisdom Iboyitete, at the General Hospital, Ojobo in Burutu council area, last Monday.

    A statement signed by the NMA state chairman and secretary, Dr. Ekeneam Omo and Dr. Jude Ugbechie, said the association will commence the strike and a protest walk on Monday, June 8.

    The association called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as security operatives in the state to intensify efforts to rescue their colleague.

    It further expressed worry over the silence of the state government on the incident, which it described as particularly traumatic for the family and other medical practitioners.

    Recall that Dr. Iboyitete, a Principal Medical Officer at the General Hospital, was kidnapped midnight Sunday by gunmen pretending to be patients.

    He was whisked to an unknown destination.

    The abductors had reportedly demanded for N10 million ransom, but later reduced the sum to N5 million on Wednesday.

    It will be noted that the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), in the state, on Thursday declared an indefinite strike as a result of the development.

    The statement reads, “In the early hours of Monday the 1st of June 2020, we received the sad news of the kidnap of our colleague Dr Wisdom Iboyitete at his workplace, General Hospital Ojobo in Burutu LGA, Delta state. He was abducted on the line of duty when he heeded an emergency call to attend to a patient, not knowing that the so called patients he rushed down to attend to were kidnappers.

    “We have had countless cases of kidnap of doctors in the past but for them to now come in the guise of being patients in need of emergency care in the wee hours of the night is to say the least the height of desecration of the noble profession by taking advantage of our humane disposition to duty. How will we answer to emergency calls at night when kidnappers now pose as patients?

    “The events of the last five days have been very traumatic for us and to the immediate family in particular. The silence of the state government, the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board since the incident occurred is worrisome.

    “This unfortunate incident has brought to the fore once again, the need for government to provide adequate security in our hospitals. In addition to kidnapping, we have had incessant cases of harassment and assault of healthcare workers by patients, patients’ relatives and host communities within the hospital premises while discharging their duties.

    “We have observed with keen interest the resolve of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) to withdraw their services indefinitely until our colleague is released unconditionally. We wish to state that this is in congruence with the provisions of the physicians oath we swore to, which enjoined every doctor to attend to their own health, well being and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.

    “As an association, the welfare and security of our members remain sacrosanct. We therefore wish to express our total support of the actions taken so far by the doctors in state hospitals to draw the attention of the State Government, Ministry of Health, the Hospitals Management Board as well as the security agencies of the need to speed up efforts to secure the release of our colleague from captivity unhurt and improve on the security within the hospitals to forestall a reoccurrence of such unfortunate incident.

    “The Delta State NMA is currently mobilising her members to commence phased withdrawal of service and peaceful protest walk from Monday 8th of June 2020.

    “We are however optimistic that His Excellency will prevail on the security agencies to do the needful to ensure the release of Dr. Iboyitete from the clutches of his kidnappers.”