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Tag: Kidnapped

  • JUST IN: Kidnapped ABSU student regains freedom

    JUST IN: Kidnapped ABSU student regains freedom

    The only student of the Abia State University, Utiru still left in the custody of a criminal gang which abducted some persons while journeying along the Okigwe-Uturu Road, has been released.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made this known this Saturday via his official Twitter handle@GovernorIkpeazu.

    The Governor who thanked God, security agents and management of ABSU for the release of the abducted student, expressed joy at the development and vowed that he will surely take justice to those involved in the kidnap and will not share the State with criminal elements.

    His full tweet reads:

    “It is with exceedingly great joy and a very pleasant sense of relief that I announce that the only kidnapped ABSU student who was still in custody of the hoodlums that abducted some people few days ago along the Okigwe-Uturu Road has been freed. I spoke with her and …her mother minutes ago and want to thank God, our security agents and the management of ABSU for a job well done leading to this good news.

    “Our administration has since taken measures to strengthen security around the area where the incident happened and even beyond it ensure security of lives and property which remains my number one assignment as Governor and it is one duty I will never take lightly. We will surely take justice to those who abducted our student as we will not cohabit this state with criminals.

    “To God be the glory!”

  • kidnapped pastor, wife, 137 cows rescued in Kaduna

    kidnapped pastor, wife, 137 cows rescued in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Police Command in separate operations said it had rescued eight kidnapped victims, including a pastor, his wife, four children, and two other travellers in the state.

    While the clergyman and members of his family were abducted by bandits in their home at Kudenda, Chikun Local Government Area of the state, the two travellers were rescued around Buruku along the Birnin Gwari Highway in the same LG.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, gave the name of the man of God as Pastor Ozigi Hassan of the Mercy Place Ministry Church, Kudenda.

    Also, Jalige in a statement on Friday identified the other rescued victims who were travellers as Yusuf Sirajo of Jega Town, Kebbi State and Kabiru Yahaya, a staff of Birnin Gwari LGA.

    According to the police spokesman, the pastor, wife, and four children were being moved to the forest when operatives of the command rescued them following a distressed call.

    He said, “On the 27th April, 2021 at 0200hrs the Command received a report from DPO Kakuri that some suspected bandits in large number gained access into the residence of one Pastor Ozigi Hassan of Mercy Place Ministry Church, Kudenden and abducted him, his wife and their four (4) children and were heading the forest.

    “However, on getting the wind of the incident, Operatives were immediately drafted to the area, who gave the bandits a hot chase deep into the forest, engaged them in a gun duel which forced the bandits to take to their heels with bullet wounds.

    “Meanwhile the Pastor and his Four (4) children were successfully rescued safely but unfortunately the bandits whisked away the wife one Mrs Fulaki Ozigi into the forest.

    “On the 27th April, 2021 at about 1520hrs the Command received a report from DPO Buruku that some Gunmen had attacked a commuting vehicle along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Highway, by Labi forest in their attempt to kidnap and dispossess the victims of their valuables.

    “Operatives who tactically engaged the bandits forcing them to flee into the forest with bullet injuries while the following persons namely; (1) Yusuf Sirajo of Jega Town, Kebbi State (2) Kabiru Yahaya ‘M’ staff of Birnin Gwari LGA Secretariat were safely rescued and subsequently reunited with their families.”

    He added operatives of the Command recovered 137 cows rustled by bandits following a complaint to the Divisional Police Officer of the Afaka area.

    “To that effect, efforts were not spared in ensuring that the cattle are recovered. The effort by the Command’s Operatives had today 29th April 2021 at about 0200hrs succeeded in the recovery of one hundred and thirty-seven (137) cows and subsequently handed over to their owners after thorough diligence,” he added.

    The police chief also added that two of the bandits that raided the Low-cost Estate in Zaria, have been arrested by the police.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap Catholic priest in Imo

    JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap Catholic priest in Imo

    Gunmen on Sunday morning abducted a Catholic priest, Rev. Prof. Izu Marcell Onyeocha in Imo State.

    Onyeocha, was said to have been abducted around 7:00 a.m at Ihube Community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State along Enugu -Port Harcourt Express Road.

    The victim, who is a lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities at the Imo State University, is a native of Avuru Community in Ikeduru council area.

    He was said to have been on transit from Enugu to Owerri when the incident happened.

    According to a resident of Okigwe town, the cleric was driving when the gunmen accosted him.

    The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically into the air to force him to stop.

    It was not clear if the cleric drove alone but a resident said: “The kidnappers shot sporadically in the air to scare away other road users at the scene of the operation. They drove the cleric in his car at the scene of the incident”.

     

  • BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap busload of RCCG members on ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ trip in Kaduna [+Photo]

    BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap busload of RCCG members on ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ trip in Kaduna [+Photo]

    A busload of members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was on Friday evening attacked by gunmen in Kaduna State.

    The victims were reportedly kidnapped during the attack on their way to Kachia in preparation for the church’s Let’s Go a Fishing Easter programme.

    Head, Media and Public Relations of RCCG, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, confirmed the abduction on Friday night.

    He did not release further details on the identities and number of the victims.

    However, a church source in Kaduna said the abducted persons were “adult missionaries, male and female, from Kaduna Province 1 going to Kafanchan for prayer work.”

    According to reports, the kidnappers had not got in touch with the church and family members of the abducted persons.

    An engineer, Mr Eje Kenny Faraday, who said he “narrowly escaped being a victim,” had broken the news on his Facebook wall with the photograph of the empty bus around 7.00 p.m. on Friday.

    “All passengers in the bus are just kidnapped along Kachia Road, Km 63 from Kaduna,” he posted on his Facebook wall.

    The inscription on the side of the bus reads, ‘The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna’. Mr Faraday, in reply to a commenters’ enquiry as to when the incident happened, wrote: “Today. Not long ago. I was almost a victim.”

    As at the time this report was filed the Kaduna State police command is yet to comment on the incident.

  • Three Katsina students feared kidnapped

    Three Katsina students feared kidnapped

    Three male students of Community Day School, Gobirawa, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, were feared kidnapped on Tuesday afternoon by gunmen.

    Residents assumed that the students were abducted on their way home shortly after the school closed for the day.

    The gunmen were said to have forced the children on three motorcycles before zooming off.

    The residents could not provide specifics on the students especially on those relating to their classes and families.

    Their colleagues reportedly raised the alarm on getting to the town.

    The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah said he was not aware of the incident and should be given time to contact the DPO for the area.

    The state Education Commissioner, Associate Professor Badamosi Lawal could also not be reached for comments while the spokesman for the Ministry, Sani Suleiman said he was in Abuja and was not aware of the incident too.

     

  • Kidnapped farmer’s son regains freedom in Oyo

    Kidnapped farmer’s son regains freedom in Oyo

    Ayodeji Emmanuel, the 24-year-old son of a poultry farmer, who was kidnapped on Monday in his father’s farm at Oke Odan, Apete area of Ibadan, has regained freedom.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi confirmed the released of the victim to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.

    NAN reports that unknown gunmen stormed the poultry farm of the victim’s father at Oke Odan, Apete area around 5.00 p.m., and fired gunshots sporadically into the air before abducting him.
    Fadeyi said the victim was released by his abductors on Thursday and had been reunited with his family.
    He further said the release of the victim would not stop the police investigation into the case, adding that they were still on the trail of the abductors.

    However, a member of the family, who declined to be mentioned because he is not authorised to do so, also confirmed the release of the victim, saying he was released around 7:15 p.m. on Thursday at Iseyin town, Oke-Ogun area of the state.

    The family source did not disclose whether ransom was paid to secure the release of the victim.
    NAN reports that the kidnappers had demanded for N100 million ransom for the release of the victim.

  • JUST IN: NTA reporter kidnapped in Port Harcourt

    JUST IN: NTA reporter kidnapped in Port Harcourt

    Afemale reporter with Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Network Centre in Port Harcourt , Mrs Chidiebele Julian Nweke Onyia, has been kidnapped by yet to be identified persons.

    Available details of how she was kidnapped are sketchy at the time of filing this report.

    But according to a post by Mrs Osinachi Samuel, her colleague, the journalist who works as Production Editor was abducted around Oil Mill axis of Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening.

    “Please, there’s a Sister and Colleague in need of freedom from kidnappers. NTA Port Harcourt Reporter, Chidiebere Oyia, was kidnapped Last night around Oil mill axis, on her way from work after NTA News @7. ( She worked as the Production Editor). Please, Sirs and ma’am’s, help us with any means to find her. Please Contact Manager News or any Police near you with valid information for her rescue,” Osinachi wrote.

    Other reports, however, indicated that she was abducted along Railway crossing in Woji Community of Obio-Akpor local government area of the State at about 8 pm on Tuesday

    She was reportedly on her way home after the NTA 7 pm newscast when she was kidnapped, it was further learnt.

    Anita Josephine Ogonna, a staff of Silverbird Radio and Television in Port Harcourt and one of Chidiebele’s friends who also reported the kidnapping incident on her blog told our correspondent on phone that she is worried about the recent turn on journalists by kidnappers.

    Mrs Onyia who is married and has children is a graduate of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.

    The Rivers Police Command has not reacted to the abduction as at the time of filing in this report.

  • Kidnapped Taraba LG chair, Salihu Dovo found dead

    Kidnapped Taraba LG chair, Salihu Dovo found dead

    The Chairman of Ardo-Kola Local Government Council in Taraba State, Salihu Dovo, has been killed by his abductors.

    Dovo was kidnapped by gunmen at his Jalingo residence in the early hours of Sunday.

    According reports, the kidnappers called an official of the local government few hours after his abduction to announce the killing of the council chairman.

    The Taraba Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Misal, who confirmed the death of the council chairman, said the armed men stormed the residence of the local government chairman at the Sabon Gari area of the state capital around 1am on Sunday and took him away.

    Misal said the gunmen took the council chairman to River Lamurde where they killed him and later called that his people should go and look for his body in the bush around the area.

    Misal, who said a search team which later found the body was dispatched, however, could not confirm whether it was a case of assassination or kidnapping gone wrong.

    The PPRO also said the corpse of the council chairman had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo.

  • Deeper Life varsity’s Deputy VC, Fatokun released after ransom paid

    Deeper Life varsity’s Deputy VC, Fatokun released after ransom paid

    Kidnapped Deputy Vice Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Prof. Johnson Fatokun has been released by his abductors.

    Anchor University is a faith-based institution owned by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

    Fatokun was kidnapped on Monday while on his way from Jos, Plateau State to Nasarawa State around 9.00pm.

    The kidnappers earlier demanded for N20 million ransom to set him free.

    It was however, gathered that about N7 million was paid as ransom before the kidnappers released him on Wednesday evening.

    A flash on the Facebook page of Anchor University said ” BREAKING: DVC RELEASED! To the glory of God, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Anchor University, Professor J.O. Fatokun, has been released.”

    Earlier in the day, PM NEWS had gathered that the kidnappers who claimed to be members of Boko Haram threatened to take him to their camp if N7 million was not paid to them between today and Thursday.

    On Tuesday, the Management of Anchor University had issued a statement confirming the abduction of Fatokun.

    “He was abducted in Nasarawa State on Monday, 18 January 2021 on his way from Jos, where he had gone to attend to family duties.

    “The University, in partnership with the nation’s security agencies are currently working tirelessly to ensure his release within the shortest time possible. We have already established contact with him and wish to inform the public that he is in good spirit.

    “Fatokun, a Professor of Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis, is one of the most valuable staff of the University, who has contributed immensely to academic research for development nationally and internationally.

    “We wish to extend our appreciation to the University’s friends and well-wishers who have expressed concern and support for the Institution since the incident took place.

    “Please join us in prayer as we continue to navigate this tough-terrain and hope to share the news of his release in a short while,” the statement issued by Okesola Sanusi, Assistant Registrar, Strategy & Communications had said.

    Fatokun is a Professor of Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis. He was formerly the pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma before joining the services of Anchor University in 2017 as the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences which later became Faculty of Science and Science Education.

    He likewise pioneers the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, until his appointment as the pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Anchor University, Lagos.

    His areas of Research interest are in Numerical Methods for Solving Differential Equations and its applications to Modelling, Biology and Medicine, Novel Teaching and Learning Methodologies.

  • Deeper Life holds special prayers as police confirm kidnap of varsity’s deputy VC

    Deeper Life holds special prayers as police confirm kidnap of varsity’s deputy VC

    Leaders of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry are praying for the quick and safe release of Professor Johnson Fatokun, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, owned by the church.

    This is just as the leadership of the church and the management of the university are making necessary contacts with Fatokun’s abductors.

    Meanwhile, the Nasarawa Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Professor Fatokun Johnson.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Ramhan Nansel disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    He said that the command received a complaint from one Umazayi Emmanuel while on transit from Jos to Keffi on Tuesday.

    According to him, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked him and his boss Prof. Fatokun Johnson along Kurmi Shinkafa village, Kokona Local Government Area, and abducted the Professor to an unknown destination.

    The Police command PRO stated that upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe (PSC) mobilised a search and rescue team comprising of the Police Mobile Force, Anti Kidnapping personnel, Military, Police patrol teams, vigilante and Local hunters to the area for the rescue of the abducted victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the act.

    While commiserating with the family of the abducted victim, the Commissioner of Police also assured that an unrelenting manhunt of the hoodlums has commenced and measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrences.

    He (Commissioner of Police) called on members of the public to assist the Police with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.