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Tag: Freedom

  • Kidnapped Adamawa DPO regains freedom

    Kidnapped Adamawa DPO regains freedom

    The Adamawa Police Command has confirmed the rescue of DSP Ahijo Muhammad, DPO of Mubi Division, who was kidnapped a fortnight ago by unidentified persons.

    DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, the Command’s Spokesman, confirmed the development on Saturday in Yola.

    Nguroje explained that Muhammad was rescued on Saturday evening by Police Operation Puff Ader/Operation Farauta in Mubi.

    “DSP Ahijo Muhammad, DPO Mubi North, was rescued from the hands of his abductors unharmed and healthy.

    ” The Command Anti Kidnap Unit is now investigating the matter with a view to arresting the fled kidnappers” Nguroje said.

    Muhammad was abducted about two weeks ago while travelling from Yola to Mubi.

  • JUST IN: Abducted Kaduna Principal regains freedom

    One week after his abduction, Principal of Government Technical College in Maraban Kajuru in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna, Mr Francis Maji, has been released.

    Maji was seized from his residence inside the college by gunmen who broke into his apartment last Thursday.

    Though no figure was quoted, however impeccable sources in the know revealed that a huge sum was paid as ransom before he was released.

    A source in the school said the kidnappers dropped the principal at a location early on Thursday, after they received the ransom.

    According to the source: “The kidnappers dropped him at a location after they collected the ransom.

    “He had to look for a commercial motorcycle, which brought him back to the school.”

    However, the six students of Engravers College, in Chikun Local government area and their two teachers abducted earlier in the month are yet to be released.

  • Six out of 10 kidnapped victims in Abuja regain freedom – Police

    Six out of 10 kidnapped victims in Abuja regain freedom – Police

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the rescue of six out of 10 persons abducted last week by gunmen at Pegi and Dafara community in Kuje Area Council.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Anjuguri Manzahp said in a statement in Abuja that a joint operation comprising other security agencies had been set up to ensure that all the kidnapped victims are set free.

    Manzahp said the security agencies were working assiduously to rescue the victims, calling on the residents to be calm and support the ongoing operation with useful information to the police.

    “The police are reassuring the public that it will not relent on its effort until the activities of these hoodlums and other crimes are permanently checked.

    “Further steps are also being made to engage relevant stakeholders in various communities as part of renewed effort to check this crime,” the statement read in part.

    The Chief of Pegi community, Mr Irimiah Sarki, also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kuje that the victims were freed by their abductors after families of the victims paid over N6 million ransom.

    Sarki said the families of the victims paid different amounts as ransom based on negotiations with the kidnappers.

    The chief, however, said some victims were molested over failure of their family members to meet the ransom demanded.

    “Six people so far have been released by the kidnappers and the victims have reported to my palace.

    “Some paid N3 million, N2 million, N1 million and some N800,000 depending on the negotiations with the kidnappers.

    “One of them, an Okada rider, whose family could not pay any ransom, was seriously beaten and injured by the kidnappers,” he said.

    According to him, four other victims are still in the custody of their abductors, including a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer with his two children.

    On his part, Mr Isaac Taiwo, the Chairman of Pegi Community Development Association, attributed the security challenges to bad roads and dilapidated infrastructure in the area.

    “They always take advantage of the bad roads linking the community to attack innocent residents, especially civil servants while returning from work.

    “The lack of infrastructure in Pegi is responsible for the insecurity and the absence of social and economic development in the community.

  • Nigeria@59: Nigeria should be beacon of hope, democracy, freedom – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria should be the beacon of hope, democracy and freedom, not only to the African continent but to the black Diaspora all over the world.

    In a statement released via his official twitter page, to commemorate Nigeria’s 59th independence, he said Nigeria belongs to all and Nigerians have a role to play in making the nation great.

    He said: “You see, when we put Nigeria first, we not only revive the Nigerian Dream, we also revive unity & faith, peace & progress, which were the ideals our founding fathers had in mind when they came together to put forward this new & independent nation 59 years ago on October 1, 1960”.

    Atiku, however, lamented the issues plaguing the nation, saying that “all is not well”.

    He berated the attack on the judiciary, level of extreme poverty in the country, clampdown on freedom of the press and other issues.

    He said rather than calling for prayers, he charged all Nigerians to believe in the betterment of the nation.

    He said: “So, rather than just call for prayers today, I am calling on all Nigerians to believe in Nigeria’s betterment, to work for Nigeria’s betterment, and to insist that no one in Nigeria, no matter how highly placed, shall be bigger than the laws of our land.

    “We all have a duty to support and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And this we must do, so help us God,” he added

  • JUST IN: Abducted mother of AIT staff regains freedom

    The abducted mother of Head of DAAR Communications Centre Jos, Plateau state, Mrs. Dinah Ayua, who was whisked away on Saturday in Zakibiam, Ukum local Government of Benue state, area has been freed.

    The 67-year-old was abducted by gunmen in her Zakibiam residence located behind Ukum local government secretariat on Saturday at about 7pm.

    She was blindfolded and forcefully taken away to unknown location in unmasked vehicle

    The son informed our correspondent on phone that her mother was released on Wednesday night at Jootar village, along Zakibiam – Wukari federal highway, in Benue state.

    He stated that he was contacted within 24 hours by her abductors who initially demanded for N10 million ransom.

    Ayua, a popular On Air personality and TV was a House of aspirant for Ukum Assembly constituency during the last elections.

    His constituents have invited him to contest for the chairmanship of Ukum local Government in the November local government poll, which has been zoned to his ward.

    He expressed joy over his mother’s released from the kidnappers but called on the state and federal government to save the people of Sankera geo political bloc from activities of hoodlums.

    Insecurity in Sankera comprising Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala local Government areas known for mass yam farming, has forced residents to relocate to safer zones.

    Benue Police Command said it was investigating the matter .

  • JUST IN: Kidnapped Edo CMD regains freedom

    The kidnapped Chief Medical Director of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Dr Sylvanus Okogbenin, has been released.

    Mr Danmallam Mohammed, the Edo State Commissioner of Police who confirmed the release said the CMD was released unharmed.

    More details later…

  • Ekiti: Three kidnapped civil servants regain freedom

    Three civil servants kidnapped by suspected herdsmen last Friday in Ekiti State, have been left off the hook.
    The workers, led by one Ayoola Alabi and two other junior staff are employees of the Ekiti State Road Maintenance Agency (EKROMA).
    They were reportedly kidnapped along Ayede – Isan Ekiti road in Oye Local Government area of the state, a family source told journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Friday
    It was gathered that the abductors had earlier contacted the abductees families, demanding N10m for each of their victims.
    But a family source, who craved anonymity told journalists that they paid N1million ransom for each worker to secure their freedom.
    The source said : “Yes, they were released yesterday, after they paid N1million each.”
    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the release.
    He, however, said the abductees were freed through the prompt and decisive actions taken by the police.
    “Immediately we heard about the kidnapping, our men bombarded the forest located between Ayede and Isan up to Ijesamodu where they were taken to.
    “We combed everywhere and when they knew we were closing in on them, they quickly released those held hostage and fled .
    “Our men were very careful to avoid crossfire with the abductors , so that the hostages won’t be killed in the process and it worked out”, he said .
    Ikechukwu said the police were never told whether the families paid ransom to anyone.
    “I can’t confirm whether ransom was paid, because we were not told and there was no need for that with the level of strategies that we deployed,” he said.

  • Abducted Kagara women regain freedom

    Information reaching TNG has it that the Sister-in-Law of the Chief of Staff of Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and the other woman kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Kagara town of Niger state have been released.
    According to sources, the abducted women were released in another State that is far away from Niger state after the payment of ransom.
    However, none of the parties were ready to disclose if the ransom was paid or not but a source close to the families disclosed that the families paid ransom for the release of the women.
    The women after their release were placed under medication as the trauma they had were telling on them.
    When contacted to confirm the release of the women, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abubakar Muhammad said that they are still working to get the women rescued.
    He insisted that if there is any news about the women, the media would be contacted.
    It would be recalled that about a week ago, some unknown gunmen kidnapped the sister-in-law of the Chief of Staff to the Niger state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe and one other woman in Kagara town in Niger state.
    The husbands of the two women are Special Marshalls in the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kagara.
    The gunmen had stormed Kagara town shooting sporadically before abducting the two women to an unknown destination.

  • 21 million of us ready to sacrifice our lives for El-zakzaky's freedom – Shiites

    The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shi’ites have vowed to lay down the lives of its members who are more down 21 million if the Federal Government failed to release its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
    Shi’ites said this while staging its protest in Ikeja, Lagos State on Thursday.
    Members of the group chanted several songs, demanding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should respect court orders and release El-Zakzaky.
    Addressing journalists during the protest, the South-West Coordinator of IMN, Mr. Muftau Zakariya, called on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, to prevail on Buhari to release it’s leader.
    According to Zakariya, the group would not desist from protest until Buhari released El-Zakzaky.
    He said: “We are ready to die if our leader is not released. If they are ready to kill us, we have 21 million lives to offer. I know that Nigerian soldiers do not have 21 million bullets to shoot at us.
    “It’s true that there are 21 million Shi’ites in Nigeria, and if they kill our leader, which country will they have to rule by 2023.
    “Buhari got to the office because the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, assisted him. It was Tinubu that started the movement and spent his money to ensure that the party assumes power. We’re calling on Tinubu, to talk to the President, who is a member of his party to free our leader. If he allows the President to continue to kill our members, there will not be Nigeria in 2023. We’re not happy over the continued detention of our leader.”
    This is coming barely 48-hours after members of the groups invaded the National Assembly and forcibly took over the complex and injured six policemen in the process.
    The protesters were said to have overpowered security men at the popular Mopol (Mobile Policemen) gate and entered the second gate.
    Soon after they entered, the Shi’ites members started vandalizing vehicles that were either coming or going out of the National Assembly. The mayhem forced workers and visitors to scamper for safety.

  • 11 abductees regain freedom in Zamfara

    11 abductees regain freedom in Zamfara

    Eleven abductees including three children, have regained their freedom in Zamfara.
    The children whom are aged between one and seven years have, alongside five men and three women, been handed over to Gov.Bello Matawalle on Sunday in Gusau.
    This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director-General, Press Affairs to the governor, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Sunday.
    Idris said the eleven victims released were earlier abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Jangeru in Shinkafi Local Government Area, and Aljimma Fulani village of Maru Local Government Area.
    He said, while receiving the rescued victims from the Commissioner of Police at the Government House, Gusau, Gov. Matawalle expressed optimism in the peace process recently initiated by his administration which was yielding positive results and ending security challenges in the state.
    “The governor also expressed happiness that in the past three days, he has not received any report of kidnapping, Cattle rustling or bandits attack in any part of the state unlike in the past when such reports came several times in a day,” the director-general said.
    He said the governor then commended the efforts of security agencies, especially the police, in tackling banditry in the state, and assured of his continued support for them to rid the state of all forms of criminality.
    Earlier while handing over the rescued persons to the governor, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Usman Nagogo, reiterated his commitment to the peace process which was recently initiated by the governor.
    Nagogo said the victims had been in captivity for over two months and that during the rescue operation, the bandits also released one Abubakar Halliru, an indigene of Gwaronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
    NAN reports that the governor had directed the government house clinic to take care of all the medical needs of the victims before the state government would finally reunite them with their respective families.
    NAN also reports that with the release of the 11 persons, the police have rescued a total of 51 abductees from repentant bandits between Thursday and Sunday under the governor’s peace and reconciliation initiative.