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Tag: Kidnappers

  • Police rescue ex-INEC worker from kidnappers

    Police rescue ex-INEC worker from kidnappers

    The Police Command in Cross River rescued a former staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shortly after her abduction at her residence in Calabar on Saturday.

    The command’s spokesperson, Irene Ugbo who gave the confirmation, said the commissioner commended the gallantry of the officers involved in the operation.

    She stated that three suspects were arrested during the operation while two vehicles were recovered in the process.

    She said that the command’s Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Squad (ACKS), led by SP Chukwuma Ogini, had swung into action following a distress call on her abduction at Mathias Oje Avenue in Calabar Municipality.

    Ugbo commended the bravery of Njangachang youths in the locality, who assisted in the apprehension of the suspects.

    The suspects had arms, ammunition, and charms during the operation.

    She reiterated the Commissioner, Gyogon Grimah’s resolve to rid the state of crimes and criminalities.

    “We still want to state that no Kidnapper or criminal will find the state a safe haven for crimes and criminalities again.

    This is the resolve of the commissioner as directed by the Inspector General of Police,” she stated.

  • BREAKING: Kidnappers kill, bury ex-Benue LG chairman, Washima Erukaa

    BREAKING: Kidnappers kill, bury ex-Benue LG chairman, Washima Erukaa

    Notorious kidnappers have killed Elder Washima Erukaa, a former chairman of Katsina-Ala and Ukum local government areas of Benue State,

    Erukaa, 80, was abducted from his home in Zakibiam, Ukum LGA, on September 23, 2023.

    According to reports, the kidnappers had communicated Erukaa’s passing to his family and said they have since buried him.

    “One of the abductors informed a member of the family that Erukaa died while in captivity and had been buried,” a source said.

    It was gathered that the abductors had initially demanded a sum of N12 million ransom for his release.

    “They subsequently reduced their demand to N5 million, but tragically, his life was taken before the ransom could be paid,” the source added.

  • Police arrest 10 suspected kidnapers in Kaduna

    Police arrest 10 suspected kidnapers in Kaduna

    The Police Command in Kaduna State, says it has arrested 10 suspected kidnapers between September and Oct. 3, 2023.

    The Command’s Acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated this at a news conference on Saturday in Kaduna.

    He said that operatives of the Command recovered three AK47 rifles; three fabricated 10 rounds revolvers, 448 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, another cache of 15 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, and a vehicle with registration number Ebonyi HKW 578 AA.

    “It is pertinent to note that we often have interface with you in an effort to showcasing our successes in the fight against robbery, banditry, kidnapping, and other sundry crimes.

    “The accomplishments are not devoid of the assurances of our definite commitment to our statutory duty, thus we seek for a robust Police – Public partnership in the continuous fight against criminal elements as the task of securing the communities is everybody’s duty.

    “The Command is not unmindful of the security challenges bedeviling the state amongst which are banditry, kidnapping, robbery, and farmers/herders skirmishes, among others.

    “However, remarkable efforts were not spared in addressing the untoward situation which culminates into the relative peace currently being experienced by the law-abiding citizens in the state,” he said.

    According to him, the calm security atmosphere in the state is a product of strategic and tactical deployment of human and material resources as well as the purposeful synergy within the security architecture.

    The suspects, he said, were being interrogated and would be charged to court on completion of investigations.

    Arms and ammunition recovered by police operatives on Saturday in Kaduna

    The spokesman quoted the Commissioner of Police, Mr  Musa  Garba, as commending officers and men of the Command for their gallantry and dedication to duty.

    The CP warned criminals to stay clear of the state and reiterated the commitment of the Police to protect lives and property.

  • Court sentences Mike Ozekhome’s kidnappers to 20-year imprisonment

    Court sentences Mike Ozekhome’s kidnappers to 20-year imprisonment

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Friday, convicted and sentenced two of the four defendants alleged to have kidnapped Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to a 20-year jail term each.

    Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the prosecution had been able to establish the counts preferred against Kelvin Ezeigbe and Frank Azuekor, who were 1st and 2nd defendants, beyond reasonable doubt.

    Justice Nyako held that the sentence would run from the day of their arrest.

    The judge, however, discharged and acquitted Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna, who were 3rd and 4th defendants, of the counts levelled against them in the terrorism charge.

    She held that though some of the counts against Ezeigbe and Azuekor attracted punishment ranging from death sentence, life imprisonment to at least 10 years jail term, she said she had found that the accused had been remorseful of their criminal act.

    She said she also found that they had been in custody for about 10 years from the day of their arrest.

    According to reports, while Omonigho, who was said to be the chief priest was in court, Haruna was not.

    When Nyako warned Omonigho to be careful as people worship in his shrine in the open court, the chief priest responded thus: “I have repented my lord.”

    The judge, however, directed that Haruna, who was at large, should be brought to court to face the sin of his escape from lawful custody, even though he was discharged of the counts against him.

    The judge commended the defence lawyer, Bala Dakum, and the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu, for their industrious input in the course of the trial.

    The defendants; Kelvin Ezeigbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna were first arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a FHC, on June 9, 2014, on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and acts of terrorism.

    While the three defendants were in court, Haruna was said to be missing after the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists on July 5, 2022.

    They were accused of committing acts of terrorism, contrary to Sections 1, 8 and 10 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

    They were alleged to have, on Aug. 23, 2013, kidnapped Mr. Ozekhome at Iruekpen on his way to Iviukwe in Agenebode, Edo.

    Ozekhome was held in captivity for about three weeks before his release allegedly following the payment of N28 million ransom.

    They were also accused of kidnapping Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha; Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killing five policemen and two prison officials.

    The defendants were also alleged to have compelled Eghagha to pay N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million and Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.

    The five police officers allegedly killed were Paul Ajaka, Sunday Ewanshiha, Michael Akpada, Bakary Ekong and Innocent Odoh.

    They also allegedly killed Lawrence Edora and Oyibo Okoye who were prison officers and made away with their service rifles.

    The four suspects were refused bail filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Bala Dakum.

    While Ezeigbe and Azuekor had been held at the facility of the Department of State Service (DSS), Omonigho and Haruna were held at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

  • Police kill 4 kidnappers, recover weapons in Delta

    Police kill 4 kidnappers, recover weapons in Delta

    The police command in Delta  has killed four members of a gang which specialised in kidnapping.

    The spokesman for the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Warri.

    Edafe said that the hoodlums were killed  on Monday by operatives of the command during a patrol on the Jesse/ Igueleba Road.

    He said that the armed gang members sighted the patrol vehicle from their hideout, deflated its front tyre and engaged the patrol team on a gun duel.

    “Due to reported incidents of kidnapping on Jesse axis of the state, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wale Abass, directed deployment of operatives of the Special Anti-kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad and DOPS Bufallo team, among others, to the area.

    “Consequently, on Sept. 18, during a joint patrol on Jesse – Igueleba Road, the team encountered a gang of armed bandits who laid ambush to attack and kidnap unsuspecting motorists.

    “The hoodlums fired at the front tyre of the lead pickup van; thus, demobilising the vehicle.

    “They were swiftly engaged in a gun duel by the police team. The armed bandits eventually succumbed to the superior firepower of the policemen,” he said.

    According to the spokesman, the police team pursued the bandits into a deep forest during which four of them were killed.

    The police spokesman said that one Ak-47 rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition, two locally-made cut-to-size guns and cartridges were recovered from them.

  • Finally, kidnappers who killed INEC staff arrested

    Finally, kidnappers who killed INEC staff arrested

    The council chairman of the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr Emmanuel Ajah, has confirmed the arrest of eight kidnappers who killed a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Emmanuel Igwe, along Ishiagu-Mpu road last Sunday.

    Recall that the suspected kidnappers abducted the wife of the victim and slaughtered the father of Ohanaeze youth leader, Ajah Okeafor, who was harvesting yams on his farmland.

    Ajah, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Sunday, said Igwe’s wife was rescued unhurt after paying a ransom to the kidnappers.

    He noted that the kidnappers were tracked to their hideout and apprehended through the joint effort of security agencies.

    “The kidnappers who killed INEC staff last Sunday and abducted his wife, and also butchered the father of Ohaneze youth leader, Ajah Okeafor, have been arrested,” he said.

    Ajah added that the kidnappers were seen with Fulani herdsmen and some bad boys from the Lonkpanta community and were tracked after collecting the ransom.

    “We didn’t sleep since that incident happened, the kidnappers demanded ransom, and we gave it to them. We tracked them to their hideout through the joint efforts of the security agencies and my men. We have apprehended eight of them, and we are still searching for the remaining two, who are the major kingpin,” he added.

    He revealed that the arrested suspects are responsible for the various kidnapping incidents in the council area and vowed to mobilize security operatives to raid their hideout as a way to forestall further occurrences.

    He called on the indigenes of the council to desist from conspiracies and every connection to commit crime as “no one will be spared” and urged them to give the police useful security information that will lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

  • Kidnappers kill 2, abducts 2 others in Ogun farm

    Kidnappers kill 2, abducts 2 others in Ogun farm

    Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, on Wednesday, shot dead two people and also abducted two others at a farm in Awo Village in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun.

    One of the deceased was an area commander of Ogun security outfit, So-Safe Corps, identified as Saheed Ogunrinde.

    The kidnappers were said to have appeared in camouflage and invaded a popular farm in the village which had more than 200 workers.

    The kidnappers were reportedly trailed by combined team of policemen and So-Safe Corps operatives.

    Confirming the incident, the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzalo, said his men participated in the operation to salvage the situation after the suspected kidnappers had invaded the village.

    “A distress call was made to Owode Area Command by the DPO Owode Division that two people were killed and two others were kidnapped in Abule Awo, Orile-Imo on Tuesday.

    “The Owode Area Command of So-Safe led by Saheed Ogunrinde moved to the affected location to salvage the situation.

    “On getting there, a joint operation was carried out by our men and Nigeria police and all efforts to track the kidnappers proved abortive.

    “The following morning, on Wednesday, when our men resumed with the police to search the location which led them to the Interchange Area.

    “On sighting our men, the kidnappers opened fire and their bullet hit Ogunrinde, who died in the process.

    “His body has been taken to his house at Ajura and buried. His rifle and phone were taken away by the kidnappers,” Ganzalo said.

    When contacted, the state police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

    Oyeyemi said one of the suspects had been arrested and that others were being trailed by operatives of the joint operation.

    “Two people were shot and one of them died on the spot. They also kidnapped two,“ he said.

    Oyeyemi disclosed that one suspect had been arrested.

  • Female victim narrates miraculous escape from kidnappers’ den

    Female victim narrates miraculous escape from kidnappers’ den

    Forty-year-old Funmilayo Olatunji, who was kidnapped by gunmen in Kwara State, has narrated how she miraculously escaped from the den of her abductors.

    Funmilayo, who was abducted alongside two others, luckily escaped from the kidnappers barely hours after her abduction.

    “We were seated outside the house with one Pastor Tope of the Winners Church, at about 7am, when four gunmen approached us asking if they could get cigarettes to buy.

    “I responded by telling them, we don’t sell cigarettes and suddenly they brought out their AK-47 rifles.

    “Immediately, I dropped my headphone under the chair I was sitting, with my handbag, but they were able to carry my handbag which contained some personal items.

    “Just as the drama unfolded, another victim, a 20-year-old female called Blessing Jacob, strayed in and the three of us were abducted at gunpoint and marched into an unknown forest amid torture,” Funmilayo narrated in an interview with DAILY POST in Ilorin on Sunday.

    She further disclosed that when they got to the forest, the gunmen then requested a ransom of N10m from each of the three victims.

    She said, “They enquired if I have parents and family who could be called to come to the rescue. I then asked Pastor Tope to call my husband and mother to inform them, but was not successful.

    “When my husband was reached at last, they demanded N30m for the release of the three captives.

    “At about 1.40am after walking for several hours through the forest, I started praying to God to set us free.

    “An opportunity opened up for us to escape but Pastor Tope rejected the attempt and so I left them.

    “In the course of my long trek in the bush, I came across one operator called Abraham, who told me to go straight toward Ona-Ora and not to branch anywhere again, from where a vigilante member picked me up,” she narrated.

    She said the matter was reported to the police at Osi town but no action had been taken till the time of this report.

    Funmilayo further disclosed that the kidnappers later demanded ransom from the families of the remaining two victims, who eventually were forced to pay N200,000 for their release four days after their abduction.

    “They also collected tramadol tablets and packets of cigarettes as part of the condition to secure their release,” she added.

    She identified the kidnappers as Fulani Bororo who spoke English and Yoruba languages fluently.

    Efforts to reach the spokesman of the state police command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in Ilorin on Sunday proved abortive.

  • Police, suspected Kidnappers exchange fire, two arrested in Ogun community

    Police, suspected Kidnappers exchange fire, two arrested in Ogun community

    Persons suspected to be kidnappers have killed a man in Ogun state, south-west Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, two suspect have been arrested by the police in the state  after an exchange of fire on Tuesday in the state.

    The suspects, who were identified as Mohammed Bello and Mohammed Bashiru, were apprehended following a distress call received from Bisodun village.

    The villagers had informed the police that the kidnappers had invaded their community at about 8pm to abduct a couple, Mr and Mrs Ojo.

    In reaction to  the distress call, the DPO of Owode Egba division, CSP Olasunkanmi Popoola, had raced to the scene, where he met the local hunters in large numbers, facing the kidnappers.

    According to the Ogun State police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the policemen joined the hunters in search for the kidnappers and the victims.

    Oyeyemi said “the kidnappers suddenly opened fire on the rescue team,” stating that the security men also responded.

    He regretted that one of the hunters was unfortunately hit by the bullet.

    Oyeyemi informed that the kidnappers, who were overwhelmed by the gunfire from the police and the hunters, abandoned the victims and fled.

    The abducted victims and the injured hunter were reportedly rushed to the hospital; “but the hunter, Adebare Ramoni, gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.”

    “At about 10am in the morning, there was information that the suspects were sighted somewhere in the bush, consequence upon which the Area commander of Owode Egba, ACP Adeniyi Adedeji, led teams of policemen to the scene and together with the hunters, stormed the bush and successfully apprehended two amongst the kidnappers,” Oyeyemi said.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, in Ogun, Frank Mba, commended the hunters, even as he ordered the transfer of the suspects to the anti-kidnapping unit.

    Mba sympathized with the family of the slain hunter, praying God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Suspected kidnappers neutralised in Delta, recover weapons

    Suspected kidnappers neutralised in Delta, recover weapons

    The Police Command in Delta has neutralised two suspected kidnappers and recovered assorted weapons from them in the state.

    The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Warri.

    Edafe said that the suspects were neutralised on Sunday by the Police patrol team attached to the “B division’, Warri.

    He said that the incident happened within the neighborhood of the Upper Erejuwa Street in Warri South Local Government Area of the state

    Edafe explained that the deceased were earlier apprehended on Saturday by the police patrol team while on a night surveillance patrol duty at the Okumagba Estate Roundabout in Warri South.

    “On Dec. 24, 2022, the police patrol team intercepted a tricycle with two male occupants and subjected them to a search.

    “During the search, three live cartridges concealed under the seat of the tricycle were recovered,” he said.

    Edafe said that the suspects were taken into custody, adding that upon interrogation the suspects confessed to be members of a five-man kidnapping syndicate operating within Warri and environs.

    “Acting on their confessions, on Dec. 25, the suspects led the Police operatives to their hideout at a house located at Upper Erejuwa Street, where one AK 49 rifle with Breach Number: 11876, one locally-made double barrel long gun and two machetes were recovered,” he said.

    The command’s spokesman explained that on their way back to the Police Station, the two suspects jumped out of the moving Police Hilux vehicle in an attempt to escape adding that the police went after them.

    “In a bid to demobilise them, they were maimed by the operatives, and rearrested. The suspects gave up the ghost while they were being taken to the hospital,” he said.

    Edafe said that a manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.