TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ransom

  • UNBELIEVABLE! How father kidnapped his 8-year-old son, demand ransom from wife

    UNBELIEVABLE! How father kidnapped his 8-year-old son, demand ransom from wife

    In what many will consider unbelievable, an 8-year-old boy has been kidnapped by his own stepfather.

    However, the boy, who was kidnapped by his stepfather has been rescued by detectives in Kenya and reunited with his distraught mother.

    The suspect, Nemwel Ondari, kidnapped the boy on Saturday morning, November 12, after a domestic disagreement with his wife, Everline Nandera.

    The suspect was arrested following a report filed at Embakasi police station at around 9:30am, by the boy’s worried mother.

    According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations- DCI, the suspect demanded and threatened to kill the boy with a kitchen knife if the wife didn’t act fast.

    “Nandera told detectives that she had left their home in Embakasi’s Tel Aviv area at the crack of dawn, headed for Muthurwa market,” the statement read.

    But upon coming back at around 9:20am, she found her husband and son missing. A note had been left behind by the husband Nemwel Ondari, 32, demanding for a ransom of Sh50,000, for the release of the boy.

    In the note, the man also warned his wife that he would kill the boy using a kitchen knife which he had carried, should she try any monkey business.

    Immediately the woman filled her report at Embakasi police station, detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) based at DCI Nairobi area were assembled and a manhunt for the suspect was launched.

    The detectives assisted by their Embakasi counterparts traced the suspect and arrested him at the NMS Green Park matatu terminus off Haile Sellasie avenue, a few hours later.

    The detectives established that the couple had a heated argument last night and after Everline left early in the morning for Muthurwa to fend for her family, the man packed his clothes and a kitchen knife in two bags, before taking off with the boy.

    The detectives pounced on the man at around 4pm, as he eagerly waited for the ransom to be deposited into his Mpesa account.

    Mother and child were reunited and the man was escorted to Embakasi police station, where he is cooling his heels awaiting arraignment.

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  • My kidnapper gave me N2,000 transport fare from N6m ransom – Witness tells court

    My kidnapper gave me N2,000 transport fare from N6m ransom – Witness tells court

    A Prosecution Witness (PW), Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim, told a High Court in Zaria that her kidnappers gave her N2,000 as transportation fare after collecting N6million.

    The police charged Dalhatu Shehu, Lawal Aliyu-Bullet, Nuhu Ismaila, and Nura Usman with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm, and kidnapping.

    The offence, the police said, contravenes the provisions of sections 59 (1), 246 (a-b) of the Penal Code and section 6 (b) of the Fire Arms Special Provision Act.

    Ibrahim was testifying as PW two at the resumed hearing of the case at Kaduna State High Court 1, Dogarawa Zaria.

    ‘On Jan. 2, 2021, in the night, I  heard some strange noises in the house. As I woke up and switched on the lights I saw the four defendants with a gun and machetes.

    ”They wanted to know where my husband was. I told them he was away.

    ”They kidnapped me and took me to Galadimawa Forest in Giwa Local Government Kaduna state after they had taken away money, children’s clothes and other valuables from the house.

    ”They called my husband and negotiated a ransom of N6million to be paid in two installments.

    “The money was paid in my presence and the fourth Defendant (Usman) gave me N2,000 out of the money as transportation fare,” she told the court.

    She said the defendants directed her on where to board a vehicle that will take her home and assured her that nothing will happen to her and others.

    Under cross-examination by Defence Counsel, Mr. A. Y. Musa , the Ibrahim was asked to mention the name of the person who brought the money to the suspects.

    ”I do not know his name but I know him because he works with my husband,” she said.

    The prosecution counsel, Jummai Dan’azumi applied that the witness be discharged.

    Justice Kabir Dabo discharged the witness and adjourned the matter until Nov. 15 for continuation of hearing.

    Earlier, Jafaru Ibrahim, the Court Registrar read a letter from the Nigeria Correctional Service Zaria intimating the court that the second defendant Aliyu-Bullet had died.

    He said the letter was attached with a death certificate from the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria.

    The judge, Justice Dabo struck out the charge against the deceased suspect.

  • Kaduna-Abuja train: Terrorists demand N100million ransom to release abductees

    Kaduna-Abuja train: Terrorists demand N100million ransom to release abductees

    Terrorists who attacked the Kaduna-Abuja bound train on March 28, 2022 have place a 100 million naira ransom on each of the 43 remaining abductees still in their custody.

    The families of the victims still in custody have been contacted since last week , a source said.

    This development is coming few days after the Kuje correctional center was attacked and many terrorists inmates were freed by scores of gunmen.

    The Islamic State West Africa Province claimed responsibility for the attack in a viral video 24 hours later.

    During the attack, over 300 Boko Haram fighters, convicted criminals and other inmates were released by the terrorists who overwhelmed the security operatives guarding the facility.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government had since released the names and photos of the freed 64 terrorists and their names uploaded on the database of interpol.

    ISWAP had initially contacted the FG asking for favours in exchange of abducted persons in their custody.

    As part of their demands, they requested the release of 15 terrorist commanders, their children detained by the military and an undisclosed amount of cash.

    On June 12, the terrorists released 11 hostages after 75 days in captivity, while another seven regained their freedom on Saturday.

    The victims were reportedly released through the assistance of the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald newspaper, Mallam Tukur Mamu, who has been negotiating with the militants.

    Giving an update on the situation on Sunday, a family member of the abducted victims, who didn’t want his name in print, told newsmen that the terrorists were asking each family to cough up N100m ransom for the release of their loved ones.

    The source said the seven victims that were released on Saturday paid an undisclosed amount.

    He said, “It is money that is still delaying the release of the others. The terrorists are demanding ransom now. We heard the last set paid money. They (terrorists) have reached out to us as regards the payment of ransom.

    “The situation now is that if you have your money, your loved ones would be freed. They have pegged the ransom at N100m. It is just unfortunate.”

    Another family member said they were told that the terrorists were no longer interested in negotiating with the Federal Government, saying that N100m was required to free those in captivity.

    He said they were still pleading with the terrorists to reduce the ransom as some of them could not afford the huge amount.

    He noted, “My loved one has not been released, those that were released paid N100m. I don’t have that kind of money. The kidnappers got in touch with us. They said they were no longer negotiating with the Federal Government. Getting N100m is the dilemma many of us don’t have.”

  • Kidnapp: Evans to open defence in victim’s suit over ransom

    Justice Kayode Ogunjobi of the Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square has adjourned the case of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, to open his defence till July 13, 2022.

    Justice Kayode adjourned the case on Wednesday, following the prayers of the defence counsel led by Maxwell Chukwuemeka, who pleaded with the court that he had filed two applications – a motion for change of counsel and a motion for amendment of the defendant’s statement of defence.

    Chukwuemeka was seeking to represent the defendant.

    A kidnapped victim, Chief Donatus Dunu, had in 2018 filed a suit demanding the return of the sum of £223,000 he paid as ransom while in the custody of Evans.

    The claimant is also demanding N50 million as damages.

    The claimant’s counsel, Mr D. O. Obiora, told the court that the defendant has been changing counsel and did not oppose the applications.

    Obiora said the court delivered a ruling on May 23, granting leave for the defendant to file its statement of defence. He continued that the defendant is seeking leave to amend its defence, which it has yet to file.

    However, Justice Ogunjobi granted the two applications.

    The judge stated that “This matter has suffered several adjournments. The delay is hurting everybody and putting the state at their expense.

    “We have been here since 2018 till 2022, at the instance of the defendant. I awarded a cost of N2.5 million because the delay was unwarranted.

    “If there is a further delay, I will award another cost because I don’t see why you have an application to amend your statement of defence and you didn’t come with the amended statement to file it.”

    The justice adjourned the case until July 13 for the defence to open its case.

    The claimant had instituted the suit on May 16, 2018, and served the defendant through the Comptroller General of Prison, Kirikiri maximum prison Lagos.

    The defendant was initially represented by a lawyer in March 2019 and was accorded every opportunity to defend the suit but failed to do so.

    However, when the claimant closed his case on March 3, 2022, the defendant came back seeking leave of court to defend himself.

  • Bandits release female corps member after getting N2m, 5 phones, N100,000 recharge cards and motorbike

    A female corps member, Faith Onoriode, who was kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna road by bandits, has been released after her family provided a motorbike, five Tecno phones, airtime and two million naira as ransom.

     

    The Biology/Microbiology graduate of Delta state Polytechnic, Otefe, Oghara, was kidnapped alongside others on March 21, 2022, while on her way to orientation camp in Jigawa state.

    Bandits
    Faith Onoriode

     

    Her brother, Mr Festus Onoriode, who confirmed her release, said she was released by the kidnappers on Sunday, May 29 and is currently undergoing medical attention.

     

    Speaking on details of the release, he said the bandits gave them specifications of the motorbike and the telephone, and also requested for airtime worth one hundred thousand naira, all of which they received before releasing her.

     

    He claimed they went as far as Lagos state to purchase the bike requested by the bandits because it was not sold in Kaduna.

     

    Speaking further, he added that delivering the motorbike to the kidnappers’ camp was also not easy, adding that the kidnappers advised them to procure service of escort, so they could beat the vigilant eyes of about ten military checkpoints in the Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna state where they were told to drop the bike.

     

    “We paid two million naira, one hundred thousand naira recharge card which they split into fifty thousand naira MTN and fifty thousand naira Airtel that we sent. They also demanded a motor bike and five phones. They gave the specification of the motorcycle and the phone. They said motorbike is not sold in Kaduna, it is in Lagos,” Festus explained.

     

    “We bought the bike and added the five Tecno phones. When we told them we were ready with the bike, they advised us to arrange for an escort to take it to a spot. And the escort took three hundred thousand naira to do this.

     

    “We used escort to deliver the bike. There are about ten army checkpoints on the road. We waited for sometime before they released my sister. God did it that she was not raped.

     

    “It was God. We went round churches for prayers while my sister was in the custody of the kidnappers. She was released around 6:30 to 7pm last Sunday. It was the lord’s doing. People had paid money and they didn’t see their hostages.

     

    “It was God that released her. We are thanking God for all He did. She is in the hospital in Kaduna. We also thank the security agencies in Kaduna for all they did for us. It was not easy raising the ransom. People assisted us. We thank God she came out,”

     

    “I don’t have any choice but to still thank the kidnappers for releasing my sister. When we hear what people pay up north to be released, we are grateful to them for keeping their promise.” He said.

     

    Full list of passengers who boarded Abuja-Kaduna train

  • Ransom: Abductors of Methodist Prelate demand N100m

    Ransom: Abductors of Methodist Prelate demand N100m

    The abductors of His Eminence, Samuel Kanu-Uche, the Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria and two other priests from the church have demanded a sum N100 million as ransom.

    The Prelate, the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s Chaplain, were kidnapped on Sunday in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia.

    They were abducted while they were on their way from a programme in the council area.

    The Secretary of the Conference, the Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Michael Akinwale confirmed the demand in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday.

    He appealed to all parishioners to rise up and help in raising the N100million ransom.

    The secretary released the account particulars as follows: “Name: Methodist Church Nigeria.Account Number : 2000041229.Bank: First Bank.”
    The statement read in part:

    “The devastating news of the abduction of our Prelate, the Bishop of Owerri, and the Prelate’s Chaplain has left everybody in shock.

    “This is a period of trial in which the Church must cry out that ‘The Lord that answereth by Fire’ must be our God to destroy all the manipulations of the adversary.

    “Let us all arise and cry out to the Lord!

    “As we engage in Prayer Warfare, this serves to notify you that the abductors have demanded a ransom of N100m.

    “In view of the urgency and the dire need to arrest the situation for the safety of our Prelate and other abductees, it has become imperative to seek your URGENT RESPONSE to raise the N100m ransom

    “The safety of the Prelate and other abductees must be of paramount concern to all, and your contributions spiritually and monetarily shall not go unrewarded.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Abia, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna had confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.

    “It’s quite unfortunate. Efforts are on top gear toward his rescue as well as other priests with him.

    “We solicit credible information from the public toward their rescue, please,” Ogbonna had said.

  • BREAKING: Senate prohibits payment of ransom to kidnappers

    BREAKING: Senate prohibits payment of ransom to kidnappers

    The Senate has passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 bill prohibiting the payment of ransom to kidnappers in Nigeria.

    The passage followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at plenary on Wednesday.

    Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, said the bill sought to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for release of persons who had either been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.

    According to the lawmaker the overall import of the bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom cases in Nigeria, fast spreading across the country.

    He said that in the memoranda presented to the committee, plethora of issues relating to the subject matter of terrorism and terrorism financing in line with global best practices were raised.

    Bamidele assured that the amendment bill would set standards and regulatory system intended to prevent terrorist groups from laundering money through the banking system and other financial networks.

    He added that having policies in place to combat financing of terrorism would surely either reduce or eliminate privacy and anonymity in financial and other sundry transactions as it related to the subject in the society.

    The lawmaker seat said further that the need to comprehensively review the Terrorism Prevention Act arose from the unfavourable ratings of Financial Act Task Force (FATF) recommendations of Nigeria’s Mutual Evaluation Report.

    “And the consequent placement of Nigeria in FATF’s International Cooperation and Review Group Process with its impending sanctions on Nigeria’s economy.”

    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the bill would complement the Federal Government’s efforts in the fight against insecurity when signed into law by the President.

    “It is our belief here in the Senate, that this bill, by the time signed into an Act by Mr President, will enhance the efforts of this government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other associated and related vices.

    “This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security situation in Nigeria, but even the economic fortunes of our country.

    “We have done so much as a government in terms of infrastructural development across all parts of this country but because security situation is not the kind of situation that we all want, this tends to overshadow all the tremendous and massive developments in our country.

    “It is our belief that the Executive will waste no time in signing this bill into law,” he said.

    The Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary until May 10, for Sallah break.

  • Abductors kill kano businessman, insists on collecting more ransom

    Abductors kill kano businessman, insists on collecting more ransom

    A popular kano-based businessman Alhaji Umar Sani, has been allegedly killed by kidnappers after collecting payment of ransom from his relations.

    It was reported(not TNG) that Alhaji Sani was kidnapped along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road some days ago.

    His abductors had contacted his family and demanded ransom, which was paid a few days ago.

    One of the members of the family mentioned in Kaduna on Saturday that Magaji as he was fondly called was abducted two weeks ago alongside many others on the highway en route to Burku but was later confirmed killed by co-abductees days after a ransom has been paid.

    According to him, the deceased hailed from Fagge Local Government Area in Kano metropolis.

    Another family member of the deceased , Hussaini Sani, confirmed the death and said the kidnappers had called back on Thursday, demanding another N20million from them despite killing the businessman.

    According to him, nine of them were kidnapped along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road while on their way to Buruku. They later released three of them but withheld six.

    He added that the kidnappers started to negotiate with us and other families of people abducted, we agreed to pay them collectively and we did, only to realize Magaji has been killed while others were released.

    “When we asked them about the whereabouts of our brother, they confirmed to us that he was killed by the abductors. We called them (abductors) using the number they used for the negotiation and they insisted that our brother was still alive, and even went ahead to demand another ransom before they would release him,” he said.

  • Bandits kill three kidnapped persons in Kaduna for failing to pay N20 million ransom

    Bandits kill three kidnapped persons in Kaduna for failing to pay N20 million ransom

    Three persons out of the 26 kidnapped by bandits have been killed after their relatives couldn’t pay a ransom of N20 million.

    It was reported that bandits on March 22, 2022, stormed Ungwan Bulus in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped 26 residents.

    A few days after, they demanded a ransom of N20 million each from the relatives of the kidnapped victims.

    Meanwhile , the relatives who could not afford the ransom begged for a reduction.

    The bandits got aggravated by the victim’s relatives begging and killed 3 out of their abductors with a threat of killing more if the ransom wasn’t paid.

    ‎The Chief of Ungwan Bulus, Gideon Haruna Goni, who confirmed the killing of the three victims‎ said the bandits called the community to inform them that they should pick the corpses around Dutse Community along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The Chief said the corpses had been retrieved, adding that the bandits said if the family fail to pay N20 million each for other captives before 12pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, the remaining victims would be killed.

    “We came together as a community, raised some amount and they called us and told us to pick corpses of victims from Dutse. They threatened to kill more, especially women, if their demands are not met. 26 were abducted, one was released, three were killed,” he said.

    He explained that the person, who was released was considered on health grounds.

    The chief, who appealed to the abductors not to kill any of the victims, pleaded with the state and federal government to come to their aid.

     

  • Bandits threathen to kill abducted residents of Angwan Bulus community over ransom failure

    Bandits threathen to kill abducted residents of Angwan Bulus community over ransom failure

    Palpable fear has gripped residents of the Angwan Bulus community in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State following threats by bandits to kill some residents who were kidnapped recently, as their relatives could not pay the ransom demanded.

     

    The fear was further heightened as a result of the killing of three out of the 26 kidnapped victims by bandits on Monday night.

     

    The bandits threatened to kill more of the hostages if the N20m ransom they demanded was not paid.

     

    Confirming this, the Chief of Angwan Bulus community, Gideon Goni, told journalists on Tuesday that the bandits informed the community to go and pick up the corpses of those they killed.

     

    According to the monarch, the bandits killed the victims around the Dutse community, along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

     

    He stated, “They have threatened to kill more, especially women, if their demands are not met. Out of the 26 persons that were abducted, one was released while three had been killed.

     

    “The one that was released was based on health grounds. He has a liver disease.”

     

    The monarch recalled that the bandits on March 31, 2022, invaded the community, killed two residents and abducted 26 persons.

     

    He said:“I am appealing to them not to kill anyone. We are appealing to the state and Federal Government as well as religious clerics to come to our rescue so that the killings will stop.”

     

    The state police command’s spokesman, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident.

     

    Jalige said he received a call on the discovery of three corpses at Dutse along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, adding that the corpses were evacuated by the police.

     

    “The corpses were evacuated to Saint Gerald Hospital. We are trying to talk to the area commander to ensure the safe return of those who are still in captivity,” he added.