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Tag: Ransom

  • Niger State senator clears air on alleged N110m ransom payment to bandits

    Niger State senator clears air on alleged N110m ransom payment to bandits

    No ransom was paid to secure the release of the abducted students of the Islamic seminary in Niger State.

    This is according to the lawmaker representing Niger East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Musa.

    Gunmen had on May 30 stormed their school in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State and whisked away 93 children.

    Three months later, the schoolchildren were freed, although the gunmen were said to have demanded a ransom of ₦110 million and threatened to kill the victims.

    However, the Senator who spoke during an interview on a monitored Channels Television programme said the Niger State Government has repeatedly said it would never pay ransom to the bandits.

    “The Niger State Government has made it very categorically clear and one of the policies of the state government His Excellency initiated, there is no payment of ransom for whatever reasons,” Senator Musa said, dispelling reports that ₦110 million was paid to the bandits.

    “I so much agree with him (Governor Abubakar Bello) because the more you give the ransom, the more the trade will continue because they have turned it into a trade. When they approached the government asking for ransom, the government felt it cannot go against its policy.”

    The lawmaker explained that although the government didn’t pay a dime to the abductors, the distraught parents however took up the initiative of selling their possessions to secure the release of their children.

    While noting that the government wasn’t aware when they parted with some sums to the bandits, one of the parents that took the money was held back alongside the children.

    According to the lawmaker, the state government got wind of the information when 13 of the kidnapped children escaped from their abductors.

    He added, “After they escaped, these people opened a new request. They now asked for more of the ransom and the state government insisted that they are not going to pay a kobo.

    “These people now complained that they are feeding these children, they have spent so much of their money but the policy of the government is that no ransom will be given.

    “They pleaded, the parents pleaded. I don’t know the number of calls Mr Governor was receiving from these parents but I have received so many calls appealing that we should do something about it.”

  • Police arrest pastor after church service for allegedly collecting ransom for kidnappers

    Police arrest pastor after church service for allegedly collecting ransom for kidnappers

    A 45-year-old pastor, Ndifreke Udo Amos, has been arrested by operatives of the FIB Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT) for allegedly helping a kidnap gang in the abduction of an 80-year-old man, Pa Anthony Ugbuzor Idornigie.

    The octogenarian victim was said to be sitting in his house at No 7, Garage Street, Itoki, Lagos on November 14 last year when Amos walked in with a bible in his hand and started preaching to him.

    In the middle of Amos’ sermon, another stranger was said to have walked into the compound and claimed to be in search of accommodation. Pa Idornigie was said to have offered him one, but the stranger said he should follow him to collect the amount demanded as rent because he did not have the money on him.

    While Pa Idornigie was said to have been reluctant about following the stranger, Pastor Amos allegedly urged him to do so. In the process of following the stranger, however, Pa Idornigie was abducted by some people the police now believe were working in cahoots with the pastor.

    Three days later, Pa Idornigie’s abductors were said to have called the family, demanding N20 million as ransom.

    The police was said to have become curious about Pa Amos’ involvement in the kidnap saga on realising that a POS account belonging to him was being used by the gang to receive the sums paid in installments as ransom.

    FIB-IRT operatives were said to have swung into action immediately they learnt about Pa Idornigie’s plight, rescuing the octogenarian from his abductors and tracing Amos to Agbado/Crossing part of Lagos State where his POS kiosk was situated.

    The police source said investigation into the matter revealed that Pastor Amos was a member of the gang with the specific role of going to the houses of would be victims to prepare the ground for their abduction.

    Members of Idornigie’s family were said to have paid various installments beginning with N850,000 on November 17, 2020. Other payments made to the gang, according to the police source, include another N850,000, N250,000, N50,000, N50,000, N200,000, N650,000, N350,000 and N150,000.

    The last payment of N150,000 to the said account was said to have been made by the police themselves and tagged “payment for ransom” after the matter had been reported by the family; a development said to have made Amos very uncomfortable.

    A visit the FIB-IRT operatives made to Amos’ kiosk was said not to have yielded any result as they met Amos’ absence. They were, however, told upon enquiries that Amos was the pastor in charge of a nearby church where a service was going on.

    The operatives then joined the congregation for service during which they monitored the suspect and planned how to arrest him without causing a steer or disrupting the service.

    They were said to have allowed the service to end before they started following Amos to his house without him suspecting that they were on his trail.

    He was eventually picked up in a dramatic manner as he was about to enter his house.

    The operatives were said to have stopped him as he was about to get into his compound, flashed their identity cards and told him that he was under arrest. Thereafter, they told him to lead them to his POS kiosk where they recovered some vital documents, including those that were used in transactions involving the kidnapping gang.

    Amos was said to have admitted ownership of the account number into which the ransom of N150,000 was paid, and upon interrogation at the Southwest office of FIB-IRT headed by Joel Igbinazaka Ugowe, a Superintendent of Police, he was also said to have confessed that he removed the female attendant at the POS kiosk, and conducted the transaction himself because he feared that the secret deals could become known to the young lady.

    Explaining his side of the story to reporters, Amos said: “I am a pastor with The Will of God Gospel Mission church in Agbado/Crossing, a suburb of Lagos State, and my residence is very close to the church.

    “I became a pastor in 2015 and I have been with the church since then. I was not on salary, but the General Overseer pays me a monthly stipend as upkeep money and also pays my children’s school fees.

    “Rich men and women as well as others who God has blessed in one way or the other also give me money, especially when they are giving testimonies and thanking God for what He did for them.”

    Asked why he displayed his account number on his POS kiosk, he said it was so that his customers who had need of it would have access and not for criminal purposes.

    He added: “I was riding a commercial motorcycle to augment the upkeep money my General Overseer was giving me.

    “In 2019, my General Overseer and founder of the church gave me N300,000 to start a POS business and I started it between September and October.

    “I reside very close to my church, so I put a female operator there because I would not be able to do the two works at the same time.”

    On the allegation that he sacked the lady attendant at his kiosk because he feared that she could leak his deals with kidnappers, he said: “I did not sack the girl. I only told her that I wanted to manage the POS by myself because from what was happening, I felt she would not be able to manage the problems with the operation of POS.”

    He also denied being the one that gave the kidnappers his account number, saying: “Yes, it was my account details that were sent to the victim’s family to pay in the ransom. But I was not the one who sent it and I did not know who sent it.

    “I pasted my account details in front of my POS kiosk for easy access by my customers who might have need for it. I did not paste it there for criminal purposes.

    “Eight hundred and fifty thousand naira (#850,000) was paid twice through my POS. They had started paying in money when my girl was still operating the POS for me. They were paying bit by bit: N25,000, N50,000, N50,000, N100,000, N200,000 and so on.

    “The one of N150,000, I was in the church when she called me and said the customer was in a hurry and asked me whether the money had entered and I said yes I saw an alert with ‘ransom demand’.

    “I had to call her back to explain more because I suspected that something was fishy with the tag ‘ransom demand’.

    “I later went to the nearest police station to report the strange occurrence. When I got there and reported the matter, the police gave me a sheet to write a statement.

    “After writing my statement, they asked me to go home and relax and see it as one of the troubles one usually experiences in that kind of business.

    “But to my greatest surprise, on the 24th February, 2021, the same police officer who asked me to go home and relax was the person who came and arrested me.

    He took me to the police station and handed me over to plain-clothed operatives who had been there waiting for my arrival at the police station.

    “They were very happy to see me, and that was how I was arrested.”

  • Bandits demand N60m ransom for 120 abducted Baptist students

    Bandits demand N60m ransom for 120 abducted Baptist students

    Abductors of 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna have demanded a cumulative ransom of N60 million to free the remaining 120 abductees.

    The bandits said the ransom must be paid before the end of Monday, July 19, 2021.

    The bandits freed one of the students on medical condition.

    One of the parents told The Nation that the church and parents were already working round the clock to raise the ransom.

    He however expressed hope if the ransom demand is met on Monday the students would be released on Tuesday as promised by the bandits.

    He explained the bandits reduced the ransom to N500, 000 per student, making a total of N60 million.

    According to him: “Some amounts have been gathered but the church is trying to raise additional funds from members of the church and well-wishers to complete the money. We the parents have already been contributing to the pool.”

  • Kogi hunters gun down two kidnappers while collecting ransom from victims’ families

    Kogi hunters gun down two kidnappers while collecting ransom from victims’ families

    Two kidnappers operating in Kogi State were gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday while collecting ransom from the families of their victims from one of the neighboring states.

    Following an actionable intelligence report, professional hunters in the Okehi Local Government Area of state ambushed the kidnappers who came out in the Abobo area behind the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, to collect the ransom demanded before the release of their victims.

    Two of the three kidnappers were killed in the process while one escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds. The captives were also freed in course of the operation.

    Speaking to newsmen, the Divisional Police Officer, Okehi Local Government Area, Mr. Ovanja Yakubu said men of the Nigerian Police in his division have been drafted to join the professional hunters to fetch out the third kidnapper dead or alive.

    In his reaction, the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, maintained that the state cannot accommodate any criminal who wants to deprive the people of their peace.

    The governor said he was elected and sworn-in to protect the lives and property of the people and will ensure such a covenant is kept for posterity.

    He commended the professional hunters and the conventional security agencies in the state for their tireless efforts in rooting out criminal elements from the state.

  • Nobody should pay bandits ransom if I’m kidnapped – El-Rufai’s wife

    Nobody should pay bandits ransom if I’m kidnapped – El-Rufai’s wife

    Wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajia Asia El-Rufai has said that Nigerians must sacrifice to end banditry and kidnapping, saying that, no ransom should be paid to her abductors if she is kidnapped.

    The Governor’s wife made the remarks in Kaduna on Wednesday while addressing participants of a peace and security training, organized for Kaduna women by Equal Access International (EAI).

    The training according to the EAI’s Country Director, Mr. Maaji Peters is aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security, CIVSEC who will make contributions and decisions on issues that affects them and their communities.

    El-Rufai’s wife who was the Guest of Honor at the event said that, Nigerians must get back their once peaceful country and women have a great role to play in achieving that.

    Mrs El-Rufai who emphasized that ransom should not be paid if she is kidnapped, added that, “we must sacrifice to bring this to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.

    “For as long as you continue to pay ransome, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire. you are giving bandits, kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay ransome. this is my personal opinion.

    “I have said it before and I will say it again, if I am kidnapped don’t pay any ransom. rather pray for me that if it is death, I go in a good way and if I am going to be released that I am not violated.

    “As long as we are giving them the money and they hurt people around, they will not change. Collectively as a country we have to say no, we can not continue to give them our hard earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children. If we don’t put a stop to this, they will destroy us all. They will even kidnap the person that takes the ransom to them.

    “You will see that some of them you even give the ransom and they still kill the person, so you have lost twice,” she said.

    Speaking on communal clashes witnessed in parts of Kaduna State, Hajia Asia El-Rufai told the women drawn from Chikun, Kajuru and Jama’a local government areas to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians and work for the unity of the State.

  • Islamiyya school abduction: We are averse to payment of ransom – Niger Govt

    Islamiyya school abduction: We are averse to payment of ransom – Niger Govt

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Sani Idris has said the state in its usual practice is averse to payment of ransom and the abduction of Islamiyya school students too is not going to be an exception.
    In a report monitored by TNG on national television, the commissioner said “in this particular case we will negotiate with them but no payment of ransom.
    Asked whether he is aware of moves by the parents of the abductees to raise the ransom, Mohammed said” all I can say is that we are averse to it but we have our strategy which we can not disclose to the media.
    Some of the parents that spoke on the issue said they do not have a choice than to think of a way to raise the money.
    They claimed the fee they pay to the owner of the school was N200 monthly because it was more of a charity thing to help them.
    Bandits last Sunday had kidnapped students of the Islamiyya school initially demanding for N300m but later reduced it to N110m after parents pleaded for understanding.
  • Bandits demand N110m ransom for Tegina Islamiyya schoolchildren

    Bandits demand N110m ransom for Tegina Islamiyya schoolchildren

    Bandits, who abducted children attending Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina town in Rafi Local Government of Niger State, have demanded N110m ransom for their release.

    The school headmaster, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan, disclosed this on Tuesday.

    He said the bandits made contact with the school on Monday to demand for the ransom.

    Alhassan told reporters the bandits claimed to have 156 children in their custody, adding they threatened to kill them if the ransom is not paid.

    Alhassan lamented the State Government has insisted that it would not pay the ransom but would engage in negotiation with the bandits.

    It was g athered that parents of the children and the community have started soliciting funds for release of their children.

    Niger Deputy Governor Ahmed Ketso has stated the government would not pay ransom for the release of the children.

    He said the government believes that negotiation would work like it did during Kagara boys abduction.

  • Kidnapping: Senate proposes 15 years jail term for ransom payers

    Kidnapping: Senate proposes 15 years jail term for ransom payers

    The Senate, on Wednesday, moved to prohibit the payment and receiving of ransom for the release of any kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined victim in the country.

    This followed the consideration and second reading of a Bill by the upper chamber, titled: “Terrorism prevention (amendment) Bill, 2021,” and sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi.

    Onyewuchi in his lead debate said the Bill seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.

    According to Onyewuchi, the bill essentially seeks to substitute for section 14 of the Principal Act a new section to read: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”

    He expressed worry that kidnapping has become a fast and lucrative business, saying “it has now remained the most virulent form of banditry in Nigeria and the most pervasive and intractable violent crime in the country.”

    Attributing the spate of kidnappings in the country to factors such as corruption, unemployment, poverty and connivance of security agents, Onyewuchi lamented that the frequency at which persons are kidnapped daily puts most Nigerians at risk.

    “Kidnapping is on the increase in Nigeria and it is prevalent across all the geopolitical zones.

    “Some blame the rise of this criminal activity on poverty, religion, politics, deficiency of existing laws, unemployment, connivance of security agents, corruption, and greed among others.

    “Our unemployed youths are also turning out to kidnapping to get money (ransom) as a survival strategy.

    “Whatever the reason, it is most obvious that kidnapping in Nigeria puts everyone at risk, the rich and the poor, old and young, male and female, foreigner or indigene, expatriate or non-expatriate, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among others,” he said.

    Citing a report compiled by the Financial Times and the USA Global Risk Consultancy in November, 2019, the lawmaker noted that Nigeria has the highest rate of kidnaps for ransom of both locals and foreigners in all of Africa with kidnappers operating in each of its 36 states.

    According to him, “the reason behind payments of ransom is rooted on the fact that people easily identify with individual suffering.

    “However, History has shown that even where ransom is proven to have been paid, the life or safe return of a kidnap victim may not be guaranteed.”

    He observed that countries like the USA and the United Kingdom do not support payment of ransoms to kidnappers.

    “Payments of terrorist ransoms is illegal under the UK Terrorism Act 2000 while the USA adheres to a strict No-Concessions policy on the payment of ransom,” Onyewuchi said.

    He advised that, “the continuous payment of ransom must not be encouraged, in addition government should provide adequate security and strengthen the economy as a matter of urgency, accelerate its poverty alleviation programs, provide employment opportunities targeting youths who are mostly involved in abductions and kidnappings, strengthen our law enforcement agencies, and provide the necessary support to end the menace of kidnapping.”

    The Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after scaling second reading, was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative work.

    The Committee, chaired by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was given four weeks to report back to plenary.

    Meanwhile, two separate bills seeking to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Lau, Taraba State, and to amend the Federal Universities of Technology Act 2004 also passed second reading on Wednesday.

    The bills were sponsored by Senators Shuaibu Isa (Taraba North), and Oyelola Yisa Ashiru.

    Both Bills were referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in four weeks.

    Plenary suspended for one week

    Meanwhile, the Senate will not meet in plenary throughout next week, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, disclosed on Wednesday morning.

    Lawan said the week will be dedicated to zonal public hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

    “We shall be devoting the entire week to the constitution review exercise,” Lawan said.

  • Buhari, Jonathan paid ransom but denied it- Obasanjo

    Buhari, Jonathan paid ransom but denied it- Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has averred that the federal government, including the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan paid ransom to liberate kidnapped persons.

    Obasanjo made this known while speaking on Wednesday when he hosted members of the Tiv Professionals Group (TPG) in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

    He, however noted that the issue of abduction must be addressed with carrot-and-stick approach, adding that payment of ransom encourages the crime.

    He added that if ransom will not be paid, the situation has to be dealt with using other methods.

    “Some people are still reaching out, and hoping that lives can still be saved. But a situation whereby anybody thinks paying ransom is the way out, that person is folly. He is a folly,” he said.

    “This is because when you pay ransom, you encourage. But if you are not going to pay ransom, you must have the means to deal heavily with it. You must have the stick to deal with it.

    “Government has always paid ransom. Not only this government, even during Jonathan. They paid ransom but they denied it.”

  • After shooting commissioner dead, abductors of Kogi LG chairman demand ₦100m

    After shooting commissioner dead, abductors of Kogi LG chairman demand ₦100m

    The abductors of the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, Pius Kolawole, have demanded a ransom of one hundred million Naira.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Kolawole and some others were kidnapped on Saturday on his way from Ilorin to his hometown of Egbe, the border town between Kogi and Kwara State.

    He was said to be in the company of the state Commissioner for Pension Board Honourable Adebayo Solomon, who was shot dead by the gunmen.

    According to reports, the abductors contacted one of the family members of the chairman on Sunday night to demand the ransom.

    A family source on Monday said the abductors promised to call back by this morning to continue with the negotiation.

    The source further said the kidnappers had also contacted the Kogi State Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Mr. Taofik Isah who doubled as the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that the family, council area and ALGON had now agreed that only the ALGON Chairman should continue with the negotiation with the kidnappers.

    Two days ago, the kidnappers did not touch the four-year-old son of late Solomon who was in the vehicle at the time of the attack.

    While the police orderly to the chairman took to his heels, the driver of the vehicle was badly wounded and shot at by the abductors and only regained consciousness the second day at the Egbe Hospital.