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Tag: Kidnap

  • Pastor stages own kidnap, demands N5m ransom

    Pastor stages own kidnap, demands N5m ransom

    The Kaduna State Police Command, said on Wednesday that it had arrested a pastor who allegedly staged his own kidnap and demanded N5 million ransom from his family.
    A statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo said the pastor, James Clement and his accomplice, George Otokpa, were arrested by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
    According to the statement, the fake kidnap was stage-managed on Jan. 27.
    The 39-year-old pastor who lives in Nasarawa Tirkaniya area of Kaduna, allegedly conspired with Otokpa, who resides at No. 23 Aleri Water by Sarki Street, Kudandan, to commit the offence.
    It said that, Clement “demanded the payment of Five Million Naira as ransom from his own family through text messages using the second suspect as the negotiator.”
    The statement said two members of the pastor’s family reported his kidnap, and the police team was able to track him at his hide-out and arrested him together with his accomplice.
    “The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court on completion of investigation.”
    It said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri condemned such criminal mentality and cautions members of the public against such “heartless and barbaric act.”
  • Gunmen invade Kaduna community, kill vigilante, kidnap doctor’s wife, children

    Gunmen invade Kaduna community, kill vigilante, kidnap doctor’s wife, children

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked Juji Community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a vigilante man.

    According to reports the bandits, kidnapped the wife of a medical doctor Philip Ataga, his children as well as his security guards in the early hours of Saturday.

    Residents of the community, who came out in their numbers on Saturday to protest incessant attacks by the gunmen said, the latest incident started Friday night and lasted till early hours of Saturday.

    The protesting residents said the fully armed bandits engaged men of the Nigeria police in several hours of gun battle.

    The youth leader of the community, Hosea Bawa, told newsmen that they embarked on a peaceful protest against increasing cases of kidnapping in their area.

    One of the residents, Mr. Saturday Moses, said they were fed up with the attacks by the bandits.

    He said: “This time, they were up to 50. They came since around 10pm on Friday night, but they didn’t leave until very early hours of Saturday.

    “Unlike before when they use to have a field day, they had to face the police this time and they had a serious gun battle. We heard gunshot for several hours.

    “But, I don’t know whether they overpowered the police or what happened at the end of the day, they entered some houses and in the process they kidnapped wife and children of a Medical Doctor and their security guard.

    “That is why we are protesting to call on the government to rescue the abducted people from bandits and safe our community from these evil men once and for all.” He said.

    Meanwhile, the protesters who blocked the Kachia Highway in Sabon Tasha were later dispersed by the security combined Security Personnel from Army, Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The protesters had set up burnfires for about thirty minutes preventing free flow of traffic before the Kaduna Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army in a convoy of about six trucks with armed soldiers, accompanied by Policemen from the Sabon Tasha dispersed them.

    The Brigade Commander appealed to them to go back to their community, assuring of adequate measures to protect them.

    After they were dispersed, the Army convoy moved on to Juji where they consoled the victim, Dr. Philip Ataga, whose wife and two children were kidnapped.

    At Dr. Ataga’s residence, he told newsmen that he got home past midnight to find out that the kidnappers went away with his wife and children.

    He said he was yet to be contacted by the gunmen to know if it is a case of ransom kidnapping.

    Councillor of Sabon Tasha Ward in Chikun LGA, Honourable Ganaka Kofi who was also at the residence of the victim, told newsmen that it is unfortunate that the criminals have become more daring.

  • Lagos woman fakes own kidnap, demands N10m from her employer

    Lagos woman fakes own kidnap, demands N10m from her employer

    The Police in Lagos State have arrested a 26-year old woman and her boyfriend after she allegedly faked her own kidnap to extort money from her employer.

    The woman, Ataghar Namdoo was arrested on Thursday around 10.00pm by operatives from Anti-kidnapping Unit, Lagos State Police Command for faking her own kidnap.

    Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday said January 9, at about 175:30pm, the suspect conspired with her boyfriend, Emmanuel Idu and Okpe David to produce a short video of herself blindfolded and driven to a bush in a truck.

    “In the second video, the woman, a mother of one, was seen in a bush at Sangotedo area, Ajah threatened by a man wearing a mask and holding a Jack knife. Police later identified the masked man as Emmanuel Idu who is the boyfriend of the woman.

    “The abductors were demanding for ten million naira as ransom in the video. The two videos were sent to the employer of the lady with a threat to kill her and to also go after the family of the employer if the ransom is not paid. Frightened by the threat contained in the video and the follow up calls, the said employer who is into Fleet business, reported the case to the Police.

    “On the receipt of the case, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu ordered the Anti kidnapping unit to carry out an in-depth investigate into the case. The videos were thoroughly analysed alongside other vital leads. A well coordinated operation was put in place which led to the successful rescue of the self arranged victim of the abduction and the arrest of one of the two suspects, Okpe David.

    “The Command has taken steps to verify the claim made by Okpe David that he is a military personnel. Police have equally launched a manhunt for the second male suspect, Emmanuel Idu, who is on the run. Okpe David confessed to have provided the truck used in driving the woman to the bush. The truck was actually driven by him. He also did the video recordings and sent to the employer of the Lady,” Elkana explained.

    Elkana said the three suspects all came from Benue State and that they had known each other for so many years, saying that both the lady and the man arrested confessed to the commission of the crime and that their aim was to extort money from the woman’s employer which they intended to share among themselves.

    “It is worthy to note that, it is a criminal offence for anyone to fake his or her kidnapping. Under the Lagos State laws, the offender upon conviction, is liable to 14 years imprisonment. The suspects will be charged to Court,” he said.

  • Gunmen kidnap legislator’s wife in Jigawa

    Gunmen have kidnapped the wife of a member of the Jigawa State House of Assembly. Hajiya Zahra’u Haruna was abducted in the early hours of Saturday at her residence Dangyatum village in Jahun local government area of the state. Her husband, Haruna Dangyatun, represents Miga constituency.

    Abdu Jinjiri, police public relations officer (PPRO) of the state, said the victim, Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by three gunmen on Saturday around 4am at Dangyatum village in Jahun local government area of the state.

    “Today at about 4am, a housewife named Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Dangyatum village in Miga local government area, “Jinjiri said.

    “Three unknown men came to the residence of victim with dane guns and cutlasses and took her to unknown destination.

    “But the police are already giving the suspects a hot chase

  • Boko Haram terrorists disguise, kidnap soldiers, policemen

    Boko Haram terrorists disguise, kidnap soldiers, policemen

    Two policemen and four soldiers have reportedly been kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents along Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

    The security officers were reported to have been attacked in an ambush near Auno village on Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

    The insurgents who disguised in military uniforms were said to have mounted a roadblock on the highway with three Hilux vans before taking away the hostages who were returning from a short break.

    “Four military men were abducted in an 18 seater bus while two other policemen were abducted in a Gulf car,” TheCable quoted one of the sources.

    However, Sagir Musa, army spokesperson, was not available to comment on the development.

  • Police nab wanted kidnap suspect in Delta

    The Delta Police Command says it has apprehended a wanted suspect, alleged to have kidnapped a medical doctor with Delta University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) in November 2019.

    The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Hafiz Inuwa, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Warri, Delta.

    Inuwa, who identified the suspect as Desmond Itodje, said that he was involved in the abduction of Dr Jerry Isogun, President, National Association of Resident Doctors, DELSUTH branch, on Nov. 20, 2019.

    He said that the suspect was apprehended on Jan. 8 in his hometown, Okpara Waterside in Ethiope East Local Government area of the state.

    Inuwa said that the credentials of the doctor, who had since regained freedom, were also recovered from the suspect.

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    “The police have arrested a notorious kidnapper, who kidnapped a DELSUTH doctor on Nov. 20, 2019.

    “He was arrested on Jan. 8 at his village, Okpara Waterside and investigation is ongoing,” he said.

    The police boss commended members of the local vigilante group for working closely with the police to achieve the feat.

    He urged the group to sustain a good relationship with the police so as to achieve a safe and secure environment.

  • Gunmen abduct son, woman in Kaduna

    Gunmen have abducted a woman and her 14-year-old son in Kaduna State.

    They reportedly broke into the victims’ home at Juji village in Chikun Local Government.

    The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday when the hoodlums invaded the community and shot sporadically.

    The gunmen were said to have kidnapped the woman after they broke into her home.

    The boy reportedly protested the abduction of his mother and insisted that he must accompany her.

    A resident told newsmen that the kidnappers scaled the fence into the victims’ home.

    He said: “The kidnappers stormed Juji around midnight and headed for the home of their victims.

    “When they entered the compound by scaling the fence, they knocked the door and ordered the victims to open the door.

    “But when nobody responded, they smashed one of the windows in an attempt to enter the room. The burglary in the window was strong, but they broke it and entered the room.

    “They abducted the woman and as they were going with her, her eldest son, a 14- year-old, protested and insisted that he must follow his mother and they left with them.

    “As I am speaking with you, the kidnappers have not contacted the family and we are very worried since the incident occurred over 24 hours ago.”

    The resident said that the incident was reported at the Sabon Tasha Divisional Police Station on Tuesday and the police visited the scene and took pictures.

    He lamented the spate of abductions in the area.

    He said another member of the community was kidnapped by gunmen last Thursday.

    “We are living in fear. We implore the government to protect us. We are trying to come together as a community to see how we can protect ourselves from these criminals.”

    Police spokesman DSP Yakubu Sabo said he was still awaiting report on the incident from Sabon Tasha Divisional Police Officer.

  • Police clears air on alleged kidnap of 40 people in Katsina

    Police clears air on alleged kidnap of 40 people in Katsina

    The Katsina State Police Command on Monday denied reports in the Social media and some newspaper publications alleging that 40 persons were kidnapped by bandits along Jibia – Batsari road on Sunday.

    The Command Spokesman, Superintendent Gambo Isa, in a statement, described the news as ’’mere rumor’’ and urged the public to disregard such information

    He said: ’’The command wishes to clarify rumors being circulated in the social media that yesterday in the evening bandits have kidnapped forty persons along Jibia – Batsari road’’.

    ‘’ What truly happened was that at about 18:00hrs, bandits numbering over sixty armed with AK 47 rifles blocked Jibia – Batsari road, exactly at Ruma village, forcefully stopped two J5 motor vehicles and took the occupants of the vehicles into the bush.

    ‘’Search party led by Operation Puff Adder went after the hoodlums but succeeded in rescuing all the victims with the exception of seven others’’.

    He further assured that the Police, in collaboration with community members, are frantically combing the bush to rescue the remaining seven persons.

    The seven listed as missing include: Muazu, Yasore 80, Nuhu 45, Kabiru Hashimu, 37, Dan Asibi Tela, 50, Sani Kokari 70, Nura Shambal 45 and ALi Dan Maituwor 65.

  • Gunmen kidnap mother, daughter in Abia

    Gunmen kidnap mother, daughter in Abia

    Four gunmen have kidnapped a yet-to-be-identified woman living in Aba, Abia State.

    Eyewitnesses said that the daughter of the woman was also abducted.

    The incident reportedly occurred on the Umuocham Road in Osisioma Local Government.

    Sources said the gunmen operated in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), while the woman was said to be driving a Honda CRV with a passenger, who was later understood to be her daughter.

    The sources said the gunmen, who carried pump action guns, after overtaking and forcing the woman and her daughter into their car, drove off in the Honda CRV.

    It was gathered that the woman and her daughter might have been monitored by the hoodlums from the city centre without their knowledge.

    A source at one of the security agencies in Aba, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident.

    The source said the victims’ family is yet to lodge a complaint.

    “We can only take action if a complaint about the incident is made by the affected family or even relations,” the source added.

  • 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.