TheNewsGuru

Tag: Freedom

  • Kidnapped Rivers Poly lecturer regains freedom

    Kidnapped Rivers Poly lecturer regains freedom

    Six days after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, a lecturer at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, James Fenwi has regained his freedom.

    Finwe who was abducted by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at his residence in Igwurutali, Ikwerri Local government Area of the State was freed from captivity last Saturday.

    Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics in Ken-Poly, Prince Psudo Nwiyo who disclosed this in Port Harcourt said Finwe was released unconditionally by his abductors.

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    Nwiyo expressed happiness that the pressure put on the security agencies by the Rivers State Government and the Union paid off and lauded Governor Nyesom Wike and the State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan for their efforts in ensuring the early release of Mr Finwe.

    “I had to put a lot of pressure on the police, especially the Officer in charge of kidnapping who assured me that in no distance time he was going to be released and I was very happy to hear that my colleague has been released.

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    “I want to thank the Rivers State Government for the pressure that they put on the security agencies. And the Commissioner of Police, especially the O.C Kidnapping who kept to his words to ensure that his men work assiduously to ensure the release of Mr James Finwe,” he stated.

    The Ken-Poly ASUP chairman said though the kidnappers had demanded an undisclosed sum, Finwe was released unconditionally without ransom.

  • Newlyweds, 35 others kidnapped by bandits in Katsina regain freedom

    Newlyweds, 35 others kidnapped by bandits in Katsina regain freedom

    A new couple and 35 other people kidnapped by bandits in Katsina State have regained freedom from the captivity of their abductors.

    The other victims were mostly women and children abducted from Unguwar Malamai community in Yantumaki District and Babban Duhu village in Danmusa and Safana Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    Their release on Friday followed the return of 104 other kidnapped victims whose release was secured by the state government, in collaboration with the security agencies and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

    Recall that the newlyweds were kidnaped by bandits on December 28, 2020, at Runka Community in Safana LGA.

    The new bride, Farida Sani, narrated how she was kidnapped and her 11-day experience in captivity during an interview with Channels Television.

    She said, “When the bandits attacked our town about two weeks ago, they met me inside my bedroom.

    “Upon their arrival, they first burgled my apartment and took me away with my husband. ”

    ” During our stay, they were beating my husband and his male counterparts, but they did not touch me. The place where they kept us was not a room but an open space filled with grasses,” the victim added.

    The new set of returnees were received at the Government House on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa.

  • Kidnapped sister of Oyo Deputy Minority leader regains freedom

    Kidnapped sister of Oyo Deputy Minority leader regains freedom

    Mrs Jumoke Babalola-Oludele, sister of the Deputy Minority Leader, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Sunkanmi Babalola, has regained freedom from her abductors.

    Recall that Babalola-Oludele was kidnapped on December, 21 around Oniguguri junction, beside Lion of Judah, Iyana Church, Monatan area, Ibadan.

    The victim was allegedly kidnapped by three unknown gunmen who drove in a white Toyota Camry.

    The kidnappers had earlier demanded for N20 million ransom for her release.

    Confirming the release of the victim on Saturday in Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the victim had regained freedom and united with her family.
    Fadeyi said Babalola-Oludele was released through the collaborative efforts of the security agencies and other stakeholders in the state.

    The police spokesman further said that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the case while investigation was still ongoing.

    The victim’s brother, Babalola, representing Egbeda State Constituency in the state Assembly, who also confirmed his sister’s release, said that no ransom was paid to her abductors.

  • Kidnapped Edo Dep Gov’s brother regains freedom

    Kidnapped Edo Dep Gov’s brother regains freedom

    Frederick Shaibu, the kidnapped younger brother of Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has been freed.

    According to reports, the Deputy Governor parted with a huge ransom to secure his brother’s release.

    Sources said Frederick, who was released from the den of kidnappers on Wednesday, was in good health but traumatised due to the horrible experience.

    Confirming the development, a source said: “The family is happy to have Frederick back. He is also excited to rejoin his family after his ordeal in the hands of the heartless kidnappers.”

    Shaibu’s media aide, Benjamin Atu and Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), declined to comment on payment of ransom for his release.

    Nwabuzor insisted the investigation was ongoing into the incident.

    Fredrick was seized around 7 am last Monday by the armed kidnappers while driving his children to school at Aruogba in Irhiri axis of Benin, the Edo state capital.

    The children were left in the car while the hoodlums quickly disappeared with their father.

    The kidnappers came to the spot through the nearby Ogba River and escaped with Frederick through the bush that led to the riverside.

  • After two months in captivity, Zamfara judges regain freedom from kidnappers’ den

    After two months in captivity, Zamfara judges regain freedom from kidnappers’ den

    Two Court Judges working for the Zamfara State Judiciary in Gusau the state Capital, Justice Salihu Abdullahi and Justice Shafiu Jangebe, where on Thursday freed by bandits after two months in the forest where they were held hostage.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the legal minds got their freedom back after each of them paid a ransom of N1million each.

    The duo were abducted on their way back to Zamfara from Maradi in Niger Republic in September this year and were asked to pay N10m each. But their family members were not able to gather the money which forced the bandits to retain them for up to two months. The bandits where later left with no choice than to accept N1million each after series of plea from their family members.

    Speaking to Newsmen , a brother to one of the released judges, Malam Hassan Samaru said, “When the bandits realized that we could not meet their demand of N20m, they finally called us and told us to bring whatever we have.

    “We paid two million for the two judges and they were released.”

    He said that seven other people who were in captivity along with the two judges had also paid various sums of money and were released.

  • Kidnapped Plateau Deputy VC regains freedom

    Kidnapped Plateau Deputy VC regains freedom

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Plateau State University, Bokkos, (PLASU), Dr. Jurji Gomos, who was kidnapped on Friday, has regained freedom.

    He spent close to 20 hours with his abductors.

    The Nation had reported the kidnappers broke into his residence in the early hours of Friday and took him to an unknown destination.

    Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Yohana Izam, who confirmed his release to The Nation said: “This followed spirited efforts by the Management and Staff of the University, security agencies, family and associates of Dr. Gomos.”

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. John Agam, explained the Vice-Chancellor also appreciated State Government for its solidarity with the institution at a very grave and trying moment.

    Izam, enjoined all staff to continue to pray for peace and progress at the university.

  • Kidnapped FRSC officials counter police, admit paying N6m each before freedom

    Kidnapped FRSC officials counter police, admit paying N6m each before freedom

    The six Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials who were recently released from their abductors have said that no security agency rescued them.

    They said that each of them paid N6m to the kidnappers before they were freed.

    Police spokesman Ramham Nansel said no ramson was paid for their release.

    “They were rescued by the security agencies comprising police and soldiers supported by vigilante groups and hunters,” he said.

    But the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to BBC Hausa Service, said the police lied.

    One of them said, “What the police are saying is a big lie, there is no element of truth in it, the kidnappers established contact with our relatives, the money was withdrawn in Nasarawa town.

    “They instructed that only the driver should come with the money; when the driver brought the money, they kept us aside and counted it to ensure it was complete, but because it was getting dark, they did not finish and asked the driver to go with us while they also proceeded into the bush shooting in the air.”

    Another victim whose leg was amputated as a result of the gunshot from the incident said, “We paid ransom through our relatives before we were released; some paid N5m, others N6m.”

  • JUST IN: Kidnapped NTA News Manager regains freedom

    The Assistant Manager, News and Current Affairs, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), channel 6, Aba, Abia State; Mrs. Chinyere Okoye has reportedly regained her freedom.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Okoye was kidnapped on Thursday by unidentified gunmen.

    Though information about her release was still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, however, unconfirmed reports has it that she regained her freedom on Friday morning. It could also not be ascertained as at press time if the kidnappers collected ransom before granting her release from their custody.

    According to reports, Okoye was said to have been released on Friday after operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police tactical units of Abia State Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) stormed the kidnappers den.

    A source disclosed that Mrs. Okoye, after her release was taken to the SARS facility in Aba, where she was later joined by her family members and friends.

    The source disclosed that the rescue operation was coordinated by the SARS Commander in the state, Johnbull Obioguru and heads of other police tactical units.

    According to the source, the police team acting on information stormed a compound in Mgboko, Obete in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state and cordoned off the area.

    The source disclosed that the police team, after cordoning the place stormed the house where the kidnapped NTA staff was said to have been kept by her abductors.

    It was gathered that upon raiding the said compound, Mrs. Okoye was rescued while the owner of the property where the NTA staff was kept was arrested.

    The source who said that there was no exchange of firearms, stated that the kidnappers may have abandoned the woman in the compound as a result of the pressure coming from the security agents that were already closing up on them.

  • 525 kidnap victims regain freedom in Zamfara

    525 kidnap victims regain freedom in Zamfara

    A total of 525 kidnap victims have regained their freedom from their abductors in Zamfara, the state Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, has said.
    Dauran stated this in Gusau on Tuesday when members of the state Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a congratulatory visit in his office.

    He explained that the unconditional release of the kidnap victims followed the peace and reconciliation initiative introduced by governor Bello Matawalle about five months ago.

    “This peace initiative has seen the safe return of all the 525 kidnap to their loved ones and it has also facilitated the return of hundreds of displaced persons to their respective communities in the last five months.

    “It is as a result of the successes of the Matawalle-led administration in the area of security in the state that is making our neighbouring states to contact Gov. Matawalle, so that they can copy and overcome their security challenges,” he said.

    The commissioner said high level negotiations and arrangements were currently ongoing to disarm bandits, both repentant and stubborn ones in the state.

    “On this one, we are partnering with former leaders of bandits groups who have now embraced peace as well as using our security agencies to investigate and block all sources through which the criminals get arms supplies.

    “As the chairman of the state Committee for the Recovery of Arms and Ammunition, we came to realise that some of the weapons used by the bandits are more sophisticated than the ones used by our security operatives,” he said.

    Chairman of the state Correspondents Chapel, Umar Maradun, told the commissioner that the journalists came to congratulate him on his appointment and to seek areas of cooperation.

    Maradun, who commended the efforts of the present administration in the state in tackling security issues, urged the commissioner to always operate an open door for publicity.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Mompha regains freedom, deletes Instagram posts

    Alleged fraud: Mompha regains freedom, deletes Instagram posts

    Ismaila Mustapha a.k.a Mompha, the Instagram celebrity docked by the EFCC for 14 counts of fraud and money laundering has deleted all his posts on the social media platform.

    The man who calls himself, ‘sky man’ and ‘citizen of the sky’, and who had used Instagram to display an ostentatious lifestyle has gone blank on the platform.

    The CEO of the unregistered Mompha Bureau de Change did not state the reason. His 683,000 followers were shocked to find all his posts gone on Tuesday.

    Mompha’s Instagram page now a shell

    On Monday, he regained his freedom from the prison after perfecting the bail conditions handed to him by a Lagos High Court.

    Mompha was arraigned on 29 November by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 14 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He was granted a N100m bail.