TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kidnappers

  • Kaduna Police Command arrests 2 suspected kidnappers

    Kaduna Police Command arrests 2 suspected kidnappers

    The Kaduna State Police Command, on Thursday said that it had arrested two suspected kidnappers operating on major highways in the state.

    The Command’s Public Relation officer, ASP Muktar Aliyu, who made the disclosure in an interview with TheNewsGuru (TNG), said the suspects were arrest on Dec. 17.

    Aliyu said the operatives of the Intelligence Respon Team (IRT) attached to Operation Absolute Sanity Along Abuja-Kaduna Express way arrested the suspects.

    “The two suspected kidnappers were operating along Jere/Katari axis of the Abuja-Kaduna express way and Jere-Kagarko Road all in Kaduna State.

    He said the two suspects, Adamu Lawan, 30, and Aminu Lawan, 25, were on the police’s wanted list.

    Aliyu said items recovered included two AK47 rifles and 135 rounds of live ammunition.

    “The kidnappers were arrested with bullet wounds after gun battle with IRT operatives.

    The PPRO said the suspects had confessed to being part of several kidnappings along the two major highways.

    He said serious efforts to arrest more gang members were in progress.

  • Police rescue two abducted boys, arrest kidnappers in Kebbi

    The Police Command in Kebbi said on Thursday that it had rescued two boys from suspected kidnappers who demanded N2.5 million ransom from their parents, resident in the state.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kabiru, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi that the boys, aged 10 and 11, were rescued unhurt in Dakinkowa of Kontagora in Niger State.

    Mr. Kabiru said that eight suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction and no ransom was paid before the boys were rescued.

    He said that on December 5, one Christopher Nnagbo of new prison area, Birnin Kebbi, reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Birnin Kebbi that his son, 10, had been missing since November 30.

    He said that the boy was on his way home from Anglican Church, Birnin Kebbi when he was abducted.

    “On the 5th of December, a hidden number called the victim’s mother, Mrs Angela Christopher with a view to negotiating for ransom and demanded N2.5 million before the child could be released.

    “On receipt of the report, the police swung into action. The principal suspect was arrested and the victims rescued,” Kabiru narrated.

    He said the second boy was also rescued along with the victim.

    “Effort is now underway to locate the parents of the second boy who was rescued in the operation,” he said.

    The commissioner said the victims were immediately taken to Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, for necessary observation and medical treatment.

    According to the police commissioner, the principal suspect said he was pushed into the act by the desire to settle his debt.

    Mr. Kabiru advised against people borrowing more than they could repay to avoid similar incidents.

     

    NAN

  • Kidnappers free Senator Arise after payment of N20m ransom

    Senator representing Ekiti State, Sylvester Ayodele Arise, who was kidnapped last Sunday, has been freed by his abductors.

    He was released on Friday at an undisclosed location in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State and left to find his way.

    Arise and his driver were reportedly released after payment of N20 million ransom by his family.

    The APC chieftain was reported by a very close and reliable source to have been abducted on his way to Abuja from Akure on Sunday night.

  • Kidnappers release 1 of 6 varsity students abducted in Kwara

    A gang of kidnappers struck at Kwara State University Malete in Moro Local Government Area of the state Thursday afternoon and kidnapped six students. Kidnap-syndicate One of the victims, a 200 Level student of the department of Mass Communication at the Kwara State University, (KWASU) Malete, Dorcas Oluwatimilehin Olanrewaju was however lucky as she was released Friday morning by the abductors .

    Father of the victim, MR Layiwola Olanrewaju, journalist and state correspondent of the Sun Newspapers who confirmed this development said her daughter was released by the abductors in Omuaran his hometown.

    The kidnappers while conveying the students through the town were said to have inquired of her town and dropped her off and left with other students. Vanguard gathered that Dorcas and others were abducted on Thursday afternoon on their way to the campus in Malete.

    It was also gathered that the victims had left their off-campus residence to write an examination and boarded one of the campus shuttle vehicles when they were eventually driven to an unknown destination.

    Apparently sensing danger in the circumstances she had found herself, it was learnt that Dorcas the lucky one, was said to have quickly sent a text message to one of her friends to inform her that she had been taken away by some unidentified persons suspected to be ritualists.

    Speaking on the development, the police public relations officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that the command had commenced investigation on the matter, adding that the report had been circulated to police formations within and outside the state towards possible arrest of the suspected hoodlums and safe return of the victim. ”We are very hopeful that others will be recovered alive and unite with their families ” The police spokesman assured.

  • Stay away from Ekiti – Fayose warns cultists, kidnappers

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has warned cultists and kidnappers to stay away from the state or risk being arrested and prosecuted.

    To make good his threat, the governor has given security agencies in the state a marching order to fish out those involved in the killing of two students of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

    He promised to eject cultists from tertiary institutions in the state just the same way he ended herdsmen menace in Ekiti

    Fayose, in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said security agents had been placed on the alert to secure some points in the state that some people wanted to turn to kidnapping spots.

    The governor, who expressed disgust at last week’s Monday killing of Ojo Segun and Monday’s killing of Ayodele Temilade, both of EKSU, vowed that the culprits would not go unpunished, adding that the Ekiti State House of Assembly would enact a law soon to prohibit cultism in the state.

    “We won’t allow anybody to tarnish the image of EKSU and the state. We have been experiencing peace in the state and the recent killings are condemnable. The police will surely fish out the perpetrators. I won’t allow anybody to turn the institution into a place of bloodshed.

    “I have told the management of the institution to stamp out cult activities. People sent to go and study should face their studies squarely. Also, security agents are monitoring the activities of some bad eggs who want to turn Ogotun-Igbaraoke-Ikere axis and Oye-Imojo-Ayede axis to kidnappers’ areas of operation. We are on top of the situation and there is no hiding place for criminal elements in the state,” he said.

    While urging the public not to aid or abet criminals and their activities, he added that some dedicated telephone lines: 09030002151, 09030002161 and 08062336577, had been made available for them to contact the police.

  • How Navy uncovered hotel used as ‘base of kidnappers, oil vandals’ in Lagos

    • Policeman, seven other suspects arrested

    The operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) attached to the Operation Awatse in Lagos on Wednesday uncovered a Lagos hotel where Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was siphoned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline.

    The operatives led by the AWATSE’s Maritime Component Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Akokota also arrested eight suspects including a Police Inspector at the premises, Glonik Hotel situated at 31, Social Club Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

    The suspects arrested were Insp Lukeman Rabiu of the Lagos Police Command X-Squad Unit, the receptionist Gladys Daniel, the waitress Rachael Oludara (22), housekeeper, Adegoke Adetunji (20), tanker driver Waliu Teller (41) Oluwaseun Oguntoyin (20), Victor Vincent (19) and Bobola Kuti (28).

    It was gathered that three 33,000 litres tankers were loaded overnight, two left while the third one with registration number EPE367XE developed technical problems and was abandoned at an improvised loading bay beside the hotel.

    At the time of visitation alongside some naval officers, there were two other empty tankers on the street while pieces of broken bottles, chattered windscreens, hose and fuel-laden jerry cans were in the hotel. Also, clips used to grip hose on pumping machines were seen in room 209 which was said to have been occupied by another policeman who fled.

    A woman believed to have been abducted was said to be found tied up in a room inside the hotel. She was rescued by the operatives.

    Policemen attached to Ijaye division also responded to a distress call from the scene which almost led to a rivalry between the security operatives.

    The receptionist, Rachel Egbede, told NAN that she started working at the hotel after the previous workers were sacked three weeks ago.

    “I observed that some men gather here by 10pm every night claiming they came for a meeting and whenever I challenge them, my manager usually tell me to let them be,” she said.

    “Most times I see policemen with them so I never suspected anything until today that I started hearing gunshots in the middle of the night before we were all rounded up.”

    Waliu Tella, the arrested tanker driver, told NAN that he brought his vehicle to the location after he was promised N500,000 per trip.

    Five tankers and two tanker heads were packed at the scene.

    When contacted, Olarinde Famous-Cole, spokesman of the Lagos state police command, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

  • Investors abandoning their businesses over fear of being kidnapped – Dangote

    Investors abandoning their businesses over fear of being kidnapped – Dangote

    President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has advised the government to tackle insecurity challenges in the country, particularly kidnapping, stressing that investors are now abandoning their businesses over fear of being kidnapped.

    Dangote made this revelationn at the ongoing Agric Expo and Conference, organised by Nigeria Agribusiness Group in collaboration with other private and public sector agencies.

    He was represented by Executive Director, Public Sector, Dangote Group, Mosul Ahmed, who spoke on ‘Challenges Facing Agribusiness Investors in Nigeria.’ He lamented the spate of kidnapping on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, which he said has made investors, who own commercial farms to practically abandon them for fear of being attacked or kidnapped.

    It will be recalled that kidnapping has been on the increase across the country, particularly the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, forcing the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to deploy a large number of policemen on that axis.

    He said: “The security situation in the country is discouraging agribusiness investors. Most of the people that own large farms on the Kaduna-Abuja Road have abandoned their farms due to the menace of kidnapping.”

    He also lamented bottlenecks in access to land by agribusiness investors, which he traced to the Land Use Act, and cautioned that if the Act was not revisited, it will impede the expected and desired diversification of the economy.

    He therefore, advised that government at all levels should begin to work together, where necessary, on proactive approach, particularly on securing land for commercialised agriculture. He also accused governments at all levels of lack of cooperation and protection of investors in the agricultural sector, noting that there is no synergy on inter-governmental relationship for better performance and productivity by the sector.

    “Agriculture cannot thrive in this country, except there is cooperation between all the agencies of government. Inter-governmental cooperation is lacking in terms of galvanising the kind of support that investors need in the sector,” he stated.

     

  • Soldiers storm kidnappers den in Ondo, arrest seven

    Soldiers storm kidnappers den in Ondo, arrest seven

    Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure, Ondo State, on Wednesday stormed the various bushes in Akoko area of the state and arrested seven suspected kidnappers in their dens.

    The soldiers were said to have gone after the hoodlums in their dens in Akokoland following the incessant reports of kidnappings, especially travellers on the Akure-Owo and Kabba-Auga-Akunnu Expressways.

    Many travellers, including a traditional ruler of Iyani-Akoko, Oba Sunday Daodu, had been victims while some had been allegedly killed on these highways.

    Speaking on the operation, the Assistant Director of the Nigeria Army Public Relations, Captain Ojo Adelegan, said the incessant activities of the kidnappers in the area informed the action of the army.

    Adelegan said the suspects, whose identity had not been disclosed by the army as of the time of filling this report were kidnappers and their informants.

    He explained, “The Commander 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier-General James Ataguba, has personally led the brigade troop for a special operation to comb the kidnappers spots within the Akoko area of Ondo State.

    “The Commander and his troop did not leave any stone unturned where they raided, cordoned and thoroughly searched various forested kidnappers camps and spots at the boundary between Kogi and Ondo State in Akunu Akoko, Ohogo and Ogale communities .

    “The operations which aimed at checkmating the incessant kidnappings within the Akoko area of Ondo State commenced early hours of today (Wednesday) and was extended to Oba Akoko and Ose communities.”

    Adelegan said the suspected kidnappers had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further action. He appealed to the people of the state to give useful information on any activity of the hoodlums to the brigade.

  • Lagos Court remands woman, 11 others over Ikeja “Ile-Zik” kidnappers’ den

    Twelve suspected kidnappers including a woman, arrested by the police in connection with a kidnappers’ den at Ile-Zik Bus Stop in Ikeja, were on Friday remanded at Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of a Lagos magistrate.

    Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias said the accused are to remain behind bars pending a legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    The “Ile Zik 12 men” were brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, attempted kidnap and possession of arms and ammunition.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the bus stop is named after a four-storey building built by the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe.

    Barely a week before, another kidnappers’ hole was discovered at Ijaiye area on the Oshodi-Sango-Abeokuta Highway.

    The accused are Hakeem Ogundele, 32; Noah Samuel, 25; Ayomide Olatunji, 44; Felix Matthew, 34; American Obodoyibo, 42; Shola Elemo, 32; and Adijat Mudashiru, 32.

    Others are Tunde Akanji, 41; Adeoye Adekeye, 38; Patrick Onwubufor, 65, Samuel Iyede, 50; and Bright Amankwa, 36.

    Earlier, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin, the police prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 10 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at Ile-Zik Bus Stop near Ajayi Farm in Ikeja on the Oshodi-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway.

    According to her, the 12 accused had conspired to kidnap some students of a nearby Girls Junior High School, but they luckily escaped.

    “Some school uniforms and notebooks of the students were found in possession of the accused.”

    Omisakin said one live ammunition, nine empty shells of expended ammunition, one kitchen knife and road maps were recovered from them.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences which contravened Sections 22, 330 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The case has been adjourned until Aug. 22.

     

     

    NAN

  • Another suspected kidnappers’ den uncovered, set ablaze in Ikeja, Lagos

    Irate mob set ablaze a den suspected to be used by members of an unknown kidnap gang at Ile-Zik, in Ikeja, area of Lagos state.

    Speaking with journalists at the scene of the incident, a Rapid Response Squad, RRS official who spoke on anonymity grounds said a dead body was also recovered near the hideout.

    “We are still investigating and already and our men have been drafted here,” he added.

    TheNewsguru.com gathered that the about three suspects have been arrested, while a sharp knife was found on one of the suspects said to have been posing as a mad man.

    Recall there was a similar incident which happened on Thursday, where two suspected kidnappers were lynched along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.