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Tag: Kidnap

  • Police kill 3 bandits in Katsina, rescue kidnap victims

    Police kill 3 bandits in Katsina, rescue kidnap victims

    The Police Command in Katsina says it has suceeded in thwarting a kidnap attempt, killed three suspected bandits, and rescued all the kidnapped victims.

    ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the command’s spokesman, who disclosed this said the incident occurred at Duya village, Maibakko ward, in Sabuwa Local Government Area (LGA).

    “On June 7, 2024, information was received at the Sabuwa Divisional Police Headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers, wielding dangerous weapons, attacked Duya village and kidnapped a number of women

    “Upon receipt of the report, promptly, the DPO of the Divisional headquarters, CSP Aliyu Mustapha, in collaboration with members of the vigilante, mobilised a team of operatives to the scene.

    “On noticing the presence of the team, the bandits opened fire on the them, which the team responded gallantly and successfully thwarted the kidnapping attempt and rescued all the kidnapped victims.

    “In the course of scanning the scene, the bodies of three neutralised suspected bandits were recovered from the scene,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.

    He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, commended the operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and gallantry.

    He said that Abubakar-Musa also reiterated the command’s commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of the good people of the state.

  • Police arrest foreigner, 2 others over alleged kidnapping in Delta

    Police arrest foreigner, 2 others over alleged kidnapping in Delta

    The Police Command in Delta has arrested three kidnap suspects including a foreigner over kidnapping incidents in the state.

    The command`s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe told newsmen on Thursday in Warri that the suspects were arrested on Saturday and Sunday at their hideouts in Warri.

    Edafe said that the suspects were arrested by the combined team of police operatives attached to the Orerokpe division, and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja.

    He said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe division, CSP Paul Oboware, upon receipt of the information, immediately mobilised and led his patrol team to the criminals’ hideouts in Warri.

    “Intelligence gathered on some kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis revealed that it is being carried out by Yakubu Ya’u at Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe Local Government Area.

    “The suspect and his gang kidnap unsuspecting residents for ransom.

    “On May 11, following combined effort from police operatives of the command and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja on the hideout of the suspect.

    “The DPO, Orerokpe division immediately mobilised and led his patrol teams to the suspect’s hideout in Warri, and after a painstaking search, he was arrested,” he said.

    Edafe said that preliminary investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other key members of the gang which included a Cameroon national on Sunday.

    He alleged that the suspects were responsible for the several kidnap incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri, and environs, adding that the victims had equally identified them.

    Edafe said that the suspects led the police detectives to Ughwagba Community in Okpe Local Government Area, where two Automatic pump action guns, a live Cartridge,  one knife were recovered.

    He said that preliminary investigations were ongoing,adding that the command has intensified efforts to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang.

  • Police neutralise kidnap suspect in Delta, rescue 2 victims

    Police neutralise kidnap suspect in Delta, rescue 2 victims

    Police in Delta neutralised a member of a kidnap gang on Friday and rescued two victims, SP Bright Edafe, the spokesman, said on Sunday in Warri.

    He said the police, Abraka (Delta) Vigilantes and a hunters group raided the hideout of the kidnap gang following credible information received by the police.

    “The combined team engaged the suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun duel during which one of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped.

    “The injured suspect was taken to the hospital where he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment,’’ Edafe said.

    He added that one AK-47 rifle and 11 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers.

    He said also that the two kidnapped victims rescued unhurt had been reunited with their families.

    Edafe said a manhunt for fleeing members of the kidnap gang had gone underway.

  • Troops rescue 16 kidnapped pupils, woman in Sokoto

    Troops rescue 16 kidnapped pupils, woman in Sokoto

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) and a woman abducted by terrorists on March 9 in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Buba said the hostages were rescued on Thursday by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation.

    He said the rescued hostages had been  handed over to the Sokoto State Government for further action.

    According to him, the armed forces are extending all efforts and resources to find other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated those crimes.

    “These efforts would continue until they are found and the terrorists  arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.

    “The military would not rest untill all kidnapped hostages are rescued,” he said.

    Buba also said troops were deploying same effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama community in Delta on March 14.

    “Indeed, to curb the freedom of action of terrorists and the perpetrators of insecurity across the country, the military has released a banner of wanted terrorists and their cohorts.

    “The banners would be deployed in strategic areas across the country. The deployment of the banner is for ease of recognition and arrest of the wanted persons.

    “The public is urged to cooperate and report, please,” he added.

  • Troops rescue 16 kidnap victims in Kaduna

    Troops rescue 16 kidnap victims in Kaduna

    The troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army have successfully averted a kidnap attempt by a violent extremist and insurgent group and rescued the abductees in Tantatu Community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said troops had on Sunday responded to actionable intelligence  at about 10:30 pm and swiftly tracked the insurgents who had earlier attacked the community in numbers and abducted some of the villagers as hostages.

    He said the troops tenaciously pursued the insurgents, engaging them in a ferocious exchange of fire and consequently rescued 16 kidnapped victims.

    According to him, the troops are still exploiting the bushes in continuation of the search and rescue operations to extricate other victims and balk the nefarious activities of the insurgents.

    “The Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for the successful rescue of the kidnap victims.

    “He charged them to remain vigilant as they conduct ongoing counter insurgency operations to liberate all troubled areas in the country,” he said.

  • Police arrest woman who “kidnapped” herself, 52 others

    Police arrest woman who “kidnapped” herself, 52 others

    Police in Akwa Ibom rescued four kidnap victims in the last one month. One of them is a woman who faked her own kidnap.

    They also arrested 52 suspects for various crimes.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Waheed Ayilara, told a news conference in Uyo on Friday that some of the crimes were murder, kidnap, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism and fraud.

    He said one of the kidnap “victims’’, a female from Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom actually arranged her own kidnap.

    She thereafter demanded for N4 million ransom, but was arrested by the police.

    “A report was received on Monday from one Enobong Sampson that her sister had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding for N4 million as ransom.

    “As a result, operatives of Anti-kidnapping squad of the Command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven operation to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victim.

    “On Tuesday, however, the purported victim and her boyfriend were arrested at a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

    “She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend and three others to proclaim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty based outside the country,’’ Ayilara said.

    He added that on Wednesday, police arrested a man at Uruting village in Okobo Local Government Area of the state for killing his 75-year-old father, using a machete.

    The suspect claimed that his deceased father had sold all the parcel of land he had, including the one that he gave to him to build his house as the reason for his action, the police commissioner said.

    Ayilara said also that on March 8, police arrested one man at Ayam village in Etinan Local Government Area of the state for being involved in the production of adulterated fruits drinks and fake products.

    Also on March 8, police rescued and arrested a man who used Point of Sale (POS) machines to defraud innocent citizens and was to be set ablaze but for the arrival of police operatives.

    Ayilara said most of the man’s victims had identified him and N350,000 cash was recovered from him at the time of arrest.

    The police commissioner assured that all the suspects would be arraigned as soon as investigations were concluded.

    Ayilara assured the people of Akwa Ibom that he would work with stakeholders to set up strategies to address contemporary security challenges in the state.

    “Let me assure Akwa Ibom people that the police will collaborate with stakeholders in harnessing available resources to ensure that the state continues to remain the most peaceful,’’ he said.

  • Police, army foil kidnap attempt, rescue 10 victims

    Police, army foil kidnap attempt, rescue 10 victims

    The Police Command in Katsina State in collaboration with the army has foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued 10 victims on Kukar Babangida/Yan Gayya feeder road.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with NAN in Katsina.

    He said: ”On Feb. 25, at about 10.40 p.m, the police command in collaboration with the military foiled a bandit attack and rescued 10 kidnapped victims along Kukar Babangida to Yan Gayya feeder road, Jibia Local Government Area.

    “The joint team while on routine patrol along the road, came under serious fire by some suspected armed bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons like AK-47 rifles.

    ”Promptly, the operational competent patrol team returned fire and succeeded in foiling the attack and rescued 10 kidnapped victims.”

    The police spokesman said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, commended the officers for displaying exceptional gallantry.

    He urged the people to continue to support the command and other security agencies in the state with timely information for swift action against all forms of crime and criminality.

    Sadiq-Aliyu expressed the commissioner’s commitment to ensuring a safer Katsina state.

  • Abducted passengers of GIG, ABC buses regain freedom

    Abducted passengers of GIG, ABC buses regain freedom

    All the 14 passengers of God Is Good (GIG) Motors and ABC Transport on Thursday finally regained freedom from their abductors in Kogi.

    SP Williams Ovye-Aya, Kogi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, who confirmed their release to NAN via telephone in Lokoja, said they were released around 5.00 p.m. on Thursday.

    Some gunmen had on Saturday, hijacked GIG motors and ABC transport buses heading to Abuja from Kogi and abducted the passengers.

    The kidnappers were reported to have demanded for N15 million ransom on each of the passengers to secure their release.

    Ovye-Aya said: “I’m confirming to you now that all the 14 kidnapped passengers of both GIG and ABC Motors have finally regained their freedom.

    “The 14 of them are hale and hearty. They will soon meet their family members.

    “Among those released are 12 passengers of GIG motors and two of ABC.

    “I can’t tell you whether ransoms were paid or not, but what I can tell you is that they are free people now.”

    Again, the command’s spokesperson did not confirm whether arrests were made while securing the freedom of the victims.

  • Ekiti gov, Oyebanji laments death of kidnapped school bus driver

    Ekiti gov, Oyebanji laments death of kidnapped school bus driver

    Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has expressed sadness over the killing of Mr Olugbaye Taiwo,  Bus Driver of the abducted pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure Ekiti.

    Oyebanji in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, consoled the family of the late driver, assuring that the perpetrators of the crime would be apprehended and brought to book.

    Taiwo was reportedly killed by the kidnappers while in their custody.

    The school pupils and their teachers were released on Sunday morning,  and are receiving medical treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

    The governor said security agencies in the state had been put on red alert, adding that the government would not relent in its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.

  • Tinubu reacts to killing of monarchs, kidnapping of pupils in Ekiti

    Tinubu reacts to killing of monarchs, kidnapping of pupils in Ekiti

    President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state, the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola.

    A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said that Tinubu condemned the mindless and brutal bloodletting, and pledged that the perpetrators would not escape justice.

    The President condoled with the families and subjects of the traditional rulers, Gov. Biodun Oyebanji, and the people of Ekiti State on this deeply agonising development.

    In the same vein, Tinubu directed the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers of a private nursery and primary school in Emure Ekiti kidnapped around Eporo-Ekiti area of the State.

    He said that security of life and property is the primary responsibility of government, assuring Nigerians that the nation’s security architecture is being robustly fortified for better and expected outcomes.

    On Monday, two of three Ekiti traditional rulers returning from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti were accosted and gunned down.

    Gunmen also abducted six pupils and three teachers of a private school and their bus driver at Eporo-Ekiti, on Monday evening.