TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kidnappers

  • BREAKING: Police capture three kingpin kidnappers of over 100 Bethel Baptist school students

    BREAKING: Police capture three kingpin kidnappers of over 100 Bethel Baptist school students

    The police have captured three kingpins involved in the kidnap of over 100 students of Bethel Baptist school, Kaduna.

    The suspects, who dressed in military camouflage, were paraded by the Force Public Relations Officers, Frank Mba, at the headquarters of defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Abuja.

    The suspects – Adamu Bello, Isiaku Lawal and Muazu Abubakar – told newsmen that 25 of them abducted the students.

    They said they carried out the operation in desperate bid to get money.

    Abubakar, a 27-year-old suspect, said, “Twenty-five of us carried out the operation. We kidnapped 136 students and I got N100,000 share from the money.”

    Recall TheNewsGuru had reported the abduction of the students and their eventual release by armed groups.

    The abduction as of then was the fourth mass abduction in Kaduna schools in the last six months of deteriorating insecurity in North-west and North-central states

  • Alarming: ‘Gunmen, kidnappers killed 612 victims in August’

    Alarming: ‘Gunmen, kidnappers killed 612 victims in August’

    Nigeria recorded no fewer than 612 deaths across 103 local government areas in 29 states in August, a security report has revealed.

    The victims were reportedly killed by gunmen and kidnappers in various armed attacks, violent crimes and bomb attacks in Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Osun, Ondo and other states.

    The report was released in Abuja on Saturday by Beacon Consulting, a Nigerian security consulting firm offering bespoke security advisory services, risk management, and resilience solutions.

    The firm explained that the August figure represented a marked reduction in the number of fatalities since the June figure (1,032), the highest for the year.

    The report presented by the Managing Director of Beacon Consulting, Kabir Adamu, read, “In August 2021, we recorded a diverse range of security incidents and a total of 612 fatalities in 29 states across 103 LGAs. The August figure of 612 represents another marked reduction in the number of fatalities since the highest for the year, 1032, in June 2021.

    “The thematic indications of the incidents that resulted in these fatalities include armed attacks and a continuation of the trend of several non-state actors successfully challenging the state’s monopoly of the use of force.

    “Findings suggest that for the reporting period, 76 per cent of kidnappings in schools happened in 2021 while 48 per cent of all abductions during these events also took place in 2021. Overall, 88 per cent of these events happened in northern Nigeria.

    “The region has been afflicted by conflict fueled by clashes over access to land and resources, among other factors. At least seven states in northern Nigeria have shut schools due to the rise in abductions and banditry in 2021,” the report noted.

    It further observed that August saw an increase in inter-community violence in Plateau State in spite of the ongoing security forces action to contain the cycle of targeted attacks and reprisals in Mangu, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos North, and Jos South.

    Beacon Consulting submitted that the cycle of conflict in Plateau as well as several other parts of the North- Central was driven by socio-economic and identity issues vis-à-vis the political dynamics of the states.

    While the North-East region recorded 70 deaths in six LGAs in two states, the North-West had 249 fatalities and 309 abducted persons, which occured in 26 LGAs in five states.

    The North-Central suffered 131 fatalities while 55 persons were abducted in 23 LGAs across seven states but the South-South region reported 32 deaths and six kidnapped victims in 14 LGAs in six states during the period.

    In the South-West, the report said 47 fatalities and eight kidnap incidents were recorded across 22 LGAs in five states, adding that political violence, criminality, including attacks on financial institutions and kidnap- for- ransom as well as the self-determination debate dominated developments during the reporting period.

    It added, “We recorded 83 fatalities and five kidnap incidents in 12 LGAs in four states in the South-East region as a result of the ongoing activities of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, farmer versus herder conflicts, as well as the security forces operation in the region against the activities of these and other non-state actors.

    “It is assessed as credible that security forces’ operations in the South-East have intensified and reduced non-state actors’ freedom to operate. It is further assessed as credible that the likelihood for resumption of the activities of these non-state actors is high in the short and medium terms as the conflict dynamics in the region such as clashes between farmers and herders as well as between IPOB or ESN and the security forces are yet to be permanently resolved.”

    The security firm contended that attempts by non-state actors to challenge the supremacy of the use of force by the state through attacks on rural communities, mass abduction, and illegal checkpoints on travel routes in the North East, North Central, and North-West regions and attacks on security forces formations in the South-East would continue unless the Federal and state governments collaborate to enhance the administration of criminal justice in restoring social order and by addressing the root causes of these challenges.

    It also stressed the need for the Federal and state governments to collaborate in dominating the forested and other ungoverned spaces, which the bandits use as safe havens and to keep their victims.

    The report forecast that criminal activities including kidnapping, violent and petty crimes as well as home invasions are likely to continue in the short and medium terms due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country. ,,

  • Amotekun rescues three remaining travelers from kidnappers

    Amotekun rescues three remaining travelers from kidnappers

    Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, code-named Amotekun, have rescued the remaining three people who were kidnapped last Wednesday in the state.

    The victims were travelling to Lagos from Ifira-Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state when they were kidnapped by gunmen.

    The incident occurred at the bad portion of Idoani-Ifira road in the Akoko South-East council area.

    The Amotekun corps had gone after the kidnappers and rescued nine victims on Thursday.

    The State Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, on Saturday in Akure told newsmen that the remaining three victims had now been freed.

    Adeleye said that the victims would be reunited with their family members later today (Saturday).

    He said that his men responded to a distress call from concerned citizens.

    “I can confirm to you that we have rescued the three remaining victims and they will be reunited with their families today,” he said.

  • Lady narrates how she escaped from kidnappers who killed Sowore’s brother

    Lady narrates how she escaped from kidnappers who killed Sowore’s brother

    One of the five people abducted Saturday along Benin-Lagos road, Emmanuella Anyanwu, has given an insight in how she escaped from the den of her captors.

    According to her report, her abductors had asked her if she could pay N10 million to secure her release.

    The deadly kidnappers were the ones who killed late Olajide Sowore on Saturday; recall the ugly incident was earlier reported by TheNewsGuru (TNG).

    She disclosed this while narrating her ordeal to reporters at the State Police Command in Benin City.

    ‘On Friday, we were coming from Lagos to the East and our vehicle broke down around Okada in the outskirts of Benin. We passed the night in the vehicle,’ she said.

    ‘At about 6:30 am to 7 am, some men came out from the bush shooting at us and we surrendered.

    ‘They took our belongings including our phones and matched us into the bush. It took us almost two hours to get to their camp. They blindfolded us.

    ‘So, they started calling us one after the other and I was the last person they called. They asked me where I was coming from and where I was going.

    ‘I told them that I was coming from Lagos and going to Imo State for my husband’s burial. They asked how many kids I have, I told them two and I also told them I sell groundnut in Lagos.

    ‘They asked if I was the one providing the money to bury my husband and I told them his brother will do that. They also wanted to know what my sister is doing and I told them she sells bread in the village.

    ‘They asked if I know them, I said no. They asked if I know the police and army, I told them I know those ones. They told me they were kidnappers and said they abducted me because of ransom.

    ‘They said if I don’t have money they will take my life. I asked them how much they wanted. But one of them was furious I was asking them questions.

    ‘I told them I needed to know the ransom. They asked if I had N10 million and I told them there was no way to get that kind of money.

    ‘I told them I will give them N500,000 from money gathered from my village. One of them said I was a fool and they told me to sit down.

    ‘Then it started raining heavily and they went away and brought one man again.’

    She said she miraculously escaped and traced her way with the help of a mobile mask.

    ‘So, they took something from that man and their attention was on it. So, I remove my blindfold and decide to escape but I decided to shelve the plan till midnight. But my spirit told me to escape because I would not have the opportunity to do so in the night because the abductors don’t sleep in the night. I crept and that was how I escaped.

    ‘I saw a mast far away and I started trekking towards it. After one hour or more, I got to a road and saw an elderly man on a motorcycle and I asked him to take me to the police station, which he did. We were two ladies and three men,’ she said.

    Anyanwu said she sustained some wounds while trying to escape.

    ‘They were very harsh and warned us not to look at their faces, they also warned us not to talk to each other. They were beating the men but spared the women. I sustained the wounds on my body when I was trying to find my way out of the bush,’ she said.

    When asked if she was aware of the death of one Olajide Sowore, she said she only witnessed the shooting but could not tell if anyone died.

    ‘They were shooting at cars but I cannot say if anyone died,’ she said.

  • Olajide Sowore: We’re combing forest to arrest killers — Police

    Olajide Sowore: We’re combing forest to arrest killers — Police

    The police on Sunday said that they were combing forest to arrest the killers of Olajide Sowore, the younger brother of Sahara Reporters’ Publisher and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

    The Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kontongs Bello, gave the assurance in Benin while addressing newsmen.

    Suspected kidnappers shot dead Sowore in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

    According to him, “It has become very necessary for the police to inform the general public that the police are on top of the situation since the incident happened yesterday (Saturday) at about 6:45a.m.

    “Bush combing has started yesterday and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Philip Ogbadu, has directed that all the tactical teams and the Divisional Police in Okada join hands in combing the forest.

    “The local vigilantes in Okada, the police team from the state headquarters and the divisional police in the area are all together combing the bush to arrest the perpetrators and also rescue five others who are still with the kidnappers.

    The statement said Sowore was not one of the occupants of a commercial bus, belonging to a private company, that got spoilt at about 2:00 a.m. and which became the target for the kidnappers.

    “Sowore, who was coming from Okada and was going towards Benin, was just a victim whom they tried to stop and he refused and they shot at his car.

    “The Commissioner of Police is doing everything possible to ensure that these people are arrested and those kidnapped are rescued,“ the statement said.

    The statement said that the kidnappers have yet to establish contacts with the family of their victims.

  • JUST IN: Bandits release five of 73 students kidnapped in Zamfara

    JUST IN: Bandits release five of 73 students kidnapped in Zamfara

    Bandits have released five among the 73 kidnpped students of Government Day Secondary School Kaya in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    Police confirmed that the students were kidnapped on Wednesday.

    A former councilor of Kaya ward, Yahaya Kaya, confirmed the release of the five students to journalists on Thursday.

    Kaya said his daughter, Amina, was among the students released by the bandits.

    Acccording to him, the five students were taken back to their hometown Kaya, around 01am on Thursday.

    He maintained that they were all in good health

  • How I risked my life to deliver ransom to abductors of my in-law – RCCG member narrates

    How I risked my life to deliver ransom to abductors of my in-law – RCCG member narrates

    Mr Kehinde Ibiteye, a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has narrated how he risked his life to deliver N2.5 million ransom to kidnappers of his brother-in-law, Mr Kayode Ajayi, and his son, Olawale, in a forest in Bwari area of the FCT.

    Ibiteye narrated the ordeal while giving a special thanksgiving to God for his safe return, on Sunday during a service at the Word of Life Area of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Kubwa, Abuja.

    The RCCG member, while narrating his experience, said his aunt’s husband, together with his son, were kidnapped at Ungwan-Fulani, a suburb in Bwari where they live at the wee hour of Aug. 23.

    “I got a phone call from a member of my family that my aunt’s husband and his 19-year-old son have been kidnapped.

    “They were kidnapped, not on the road, but right in their house. The gunmen, numbering about 25, broke into the house and took them away.

    “They first broke into a neighbour’s residence but nobody was seen in the house.

    “When they couldn’t find anyone, they went to my aunt’s house, forcefully made their way into the house, collected monies to the tune of N20,000, two android phones, took along with them food items and abducted the father and son.

    “I immediately called his wife who cried as she confirmed the ugly experience.

    “They were kidnapped last week Monday between the hours of 12am and 1am,” he narrated.

    Ibiteye said her aunt informed that the police in the area came few minutes after the abduction but to no avail.

    “And since I speak Hausa fluently and no other person could communicate in the language, I engaged their abductors in telephone conversations through my aunt’s mobile phone which they called with.

    “At first, they placed N15 million bounty on their heads if we want them released,” he said.

    He said after he negotiated further, they lowered the ransom to N2.5 million.

    According to him, the police did little or nothing to get the victims rescued.

    “The police only called to warn that we shouldn’t take money to the terrorists; we shouldn’t be the one to be in charge.

    “Generally, they have lackadaisical approach to the whole thing; they weren’t forthcoming. I didn’t even take them seriously,” he said.

    He said after the money was raised, their abductors instructed that the money should be taken to a hilly forest after a village called Kuchikwo in Bwari.

    Ibiteye lamented that the biggest challenge for the family was, however, who to take the money to the kidnappers

    “I finally resolved to take the N2.5 million to them in the forest. I took a risk giving that my blood relatives were involved.

    “I decided not to inform my wife and children about my resolution.

    “The only thing I did was to pray to God. I told God to protect me, guide me and see me through the adventure.

    “I also told God that as I go to the forest, I would come back with my aunt’s husband and his son unhurt.

    “I developed a strong faith, believing that God would not disappoint me

    “And when I was conversing with the abductors, I tried to build their confidence on the fact that the money we agreed on finally would definitely get to them so long they could guarantee the safety of the captives,.

    “At times if I talked with them, I would be hearing how my in-law and his son were being tortured.” he said.

    According to him, the kidnappers warned us against inviting the police.

    “They warned that if we informed the police, they would know and we would pay dearly for it,” Ibiteye said.

    He said the captors gave him instructions at intervals.

    “I was told to get an Okada rider (a commercial motorcyclist) who is well familiar with the environment to convey me to their enclave.

    “I picked an okada randomly at about 3p.m. on Wednesday.

    “Although he initially declined to go on the journey, after so much pressure from people who know him, he agreed to convey me to the forest.

    “He said he would collect N10, 000 as transport fare.

    “When I spoke with the captors, they ordered me to give the phone to the bike man and they directed us to leave for the forest around 5pm.

    “We travelled for about one and half hours before getting to a marketplace where we were directed to pull up.

    “At this time, it was getting dark and cloudy. They did this to allow the night fall before getting to their area.

    “After a while, they directed us to continue the journey.

    “At about 8pm that day, we got to the hinterland of the forest, surrounded by hills and mountains.

    “The forest is two villages after Kuchikwo, and throughout our journey from there, it was raining heavily,” he said.

    Ibiteye said a man, hanging AK-47 on his shoulder, came out from their camp, flashed light at them and ordered him to place the money on the rocky ground.

    “He asked if the money was complete and I responded in affirmation.

    “We were then told to go back to the marketplace at the village where we had a stopover on our way going to the forest.

    “They said there, my in-law would reunite with us,” he said.

    Ibiteye, who said it was at the market area the abductees came out from a bush, said the four of them rode on the motorcycle back home.

    “Though the market was not operating at the time, I became curious if anybody passes by, until I saw my in-law and his son coming out from a nearby bush,” he said.

    He said immediately they got to Bwari, his in-law and his son were taken to hospital because of the wounds sustained from the torture and various inhuman treatments subjected to while in captivity.

    Ibiteye said based on the victims’ account, the kidnappers had various sophisticated weapons in their camp.

    “They also observed that those guys (abductors) were working as syndicate because they conversed with some other people either within or outside Abuja on the phone.

    “Besides, my in-law told me that when the police team came around the day they were kidnapped shooting sporadically in the air, all of them together with their captors were still within the surroundings.

    “It was after the police team left that they began to embark on the journey to the forest,” he said.

    Ibiteye described his experience as “horrible and risky.”

    The RCCG member, who hinted that the incident was the third kidnap case in the area, called on the Federal Government to intervene.

    “I believe the government is aware about the operations of these criminals and they should be sincere in fulfilling their mandate of ensuring safety of lives and property of citizenry,” he urged.

    However, when NAN sought the confirmation of the incident in a phone call put across to the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Mariam Yusuf on Monday, she requested for a text message after listening to the subject matter.

    However, she neither responded to the text message sent to her phone nor answered subsequent calls put across to her as at the time of filing the report.

  • Kidnappers invade Living Faith Church, abduct three members

    Kidnappers invade Living Faith Church, abduct three members

    Three members of the Living Faith Church Worldwide have been kidnapped at Osara community along Lokoja-Okene road in Adavi Local Government Council of Kogi State.

    According to reports the kidnapers invaded the church when some of its members were rehearsing during the weekend.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers shot sporadically into the air to scare away residents and security personnel while whisking the victims into the forest.

    The Chairman of Adavi Local Government Council, Joseph Omuya Salami, confirmed the abduction of three members of the church, through his special adviser on media and publicity, Habeeb Jamiu.

    He said the council chairman had visited the scene in company of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Osara Division, adding that the council was working in synergy with security agents to see how the victims will be rescued.

    “Even before now, we had a series of meetings with the people of Osara Community and entire farm center.

    “And I told them to restrict every night activities for now, and whoever that want to hold any activity in the night should get appropriate quarters informed and also get their approval to ensure that adequate security is provided, but out of their disobedience, they chose otherwise,” the chairman said.

    The chairman, therefore, advised residents of Osara to be security conscious and think about their own safety at all times.

    “We all know the security challenges of this country, and the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello is doing everything humanly possible to keep Kogi State safe, protect lives and property.

    “So, all hands must be on deck to strengthen the peace in our various communities,” he added.

  • ‘I gave them a token of N4m and two android phones,’ Bayelsa SSG confirms release of kidnapped 80-year-old mother

    ‘I gave them a token of N4m and two android phones,’ Bayelsa SSG confirms release of kidnapped 80-year-old mother

    The Police in Bayelsa on Sunday confirmed the rescue of Madam Betinah Benson, mother of Secretary to Bayelsa State Government (SSG), abducted on July 20 from her Ekeki residence in Yenagoa after 32 days in captivity.

    Mr Echeng Echeng, the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, confirmed the development at the residence of the SSG shortly after handing over the 80-year-old to family members.

    He explained that the pressure from the police led to her release.

    ”Our message to those involved in such heinous act is that it is a crime and no matter how involved you are, you will be arrested,” Echeng said.

    The octogenarian was in a jubilant mood when she was handed over to her son on Sunday evening in the presence of relatives and security operatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that three suspects were arrested in connection with the abduction.

    On payment of ransom to secure her release, the SSG said that a “token gift of N4 million and two android phones” were given to the kidnappers.

    The SSG described the payment as a token gift to the kidnappers and maintained that it was not ransom as the kidnappers had earlier demanded for N500 million.

    He that despite the fact that five members of the family have been victims of kidnapping in the state, he vowed never to pay ransom and trusted in the security agencies and God to secure the release of his mother.

    “Mama is back to the House and I want to give thanks to God and the security team in the state.

    “I am so happy that my mother is back. Even if I tell people that ransom was not paid, they will not believe me.

    “When they demanded for N500 million, I stood my ground. Even when I say I will not pay, I gave them a token to allow Mama return home, ” Benson said.

  • How my 3 children escaped from kidnappers den – Village Head

    How my 3 children escaped from kidnappers den – Village Head

    Alhaji Nura Jibrin, the Village Head of Dutsen Abba in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State said his three children who were abducted alongside four other residents of the village on June 9, have escaped.

    The village head told newsmen in Zaria on Thursday that seven people were abducted from the village, but four were released on June 26, after the payment of N3 million as ransom.

    He said the three children who escaped were Halima Falalu-Umar, 10, Bashir Nura-Umar, 7, and Khadija Falalu-Umar 7.

    Jibrin disclosed that sometimes in July, a few days to Eid-el-Kabir festival, the kidnappers demanded for additional money and N500, 000 was paid to them, but they refused to release the children.

    He added that on Aug. 6, the kidnappers demanded for a new motorcycle or additional N300, 000 to release the three children, but the request was not honoured by the victims’ family.

    “While waiting in anticipation, on Aug. 8, 59 days after the incident, I was informed that my children escaped from the kidnappers and they were at Sabon Birni in Igabi Local Government.

    “The caller linked me to the children. Afterwards, we went to Sabon Birni and brought them home,’’ the village head said.

    Narrating her ordeal, Halima Falalu-Umar said they ran away from their abductors in the night while it was raining and the person assigned to guard them was sleeping.

    She added that shortly after leaving the camp together with some other abducted children, they met someone along the way who asked them where they were going in the night and they lied to him that some people freed them and left them stranded.

    According to her, the man insisted to know if they ran away from any camp and the children maintained their position.

    “The man took us to a different place where we spent the night.

    “The next day, while it was still raining in the morning, we continued trekking towards the nearest village with the help of the man.

    “While trekking in the rain, Bashir collapsed and had to be carried by one of us and we continued trekking with the help of the man until we saw a mobile network mast.

    “The man stopped and told us to walk towards the direction of the mobile network mast and we will see people who will take us to the nearest village.’’

    She said while moving towards the mast as advised, they came across an over-flooded stream due to the rainfall which forced them to stay for sometimes till it subsided.

    Falalu-Umar said after crossing the stream and moving towards the mast, some good Samaritans guided them to Sabon Birni village.

    The 10-year-old disclosed that the abductors lived with their families at the camp along with their children who go on cattle rearing daily.

    She said they met other victims at the camp, mostly adults including a bride and her friends, lactating mother and her baby and many others who were tied in different groups.

    “We were not tied like the adults; they allowed us to mingle with their children before or after they return from cattle rearing.

    “We were served white rice without stew, vegetable oil or any seasoning once a day and in some instances nothing at all.’’