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Tag: Ransom

  • How we negotiated release of Kankara schoolboys without paying ransom – Govs Masari, Matawale

    How we negotiated release of Kankara schoolboys without paying ransom – Govs Masari, Matawale

    In his reaction to the release of over 344 schoolboys abducted by bandits from a Government Secondary School, Kankara on Thursday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari commended Governors Aminu Masari and Bello Matawalle of Katsina and Zamfara states respectively for working with the security operatives to free the students from their abductors.

    Government Secondary School Kankara where the students were abducted 11 December is in Katsina State.

    But the bandits who abducted the students operate across the vast forests of Northwest Nigeria, hence it was not a surprise when Governor Masari said he had information that the students have been relocated to a forest in Zamfara some days after they were abducted.

    Indeed, the schoolboys were released at Tsafe near Zamfara on Thursday, according to reports.

    Following the release of the students, the Governors of Zamfara and Katsina states have also been talking on the process that led to their freedom.

    While Governor Masari spoke to the Hausa service of a German radio station, Radio Deutche Welle, the Zamfara State Governor spoke in an interview with Daily Nigerian.

    For one, the two governors were emphatic that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the students.

    They also agree that contrary to the claim of the insurgent group in a video releases hours before the students were freed, Boko Haram was not behind the abduction of the students, but bandits.

    According to them, Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN played a key role in securing freedom for the students.

    Specifically, Masari told Radio Deutsche Welle, DW that MACABAN negotiated with the bandits to get the schoolboys released and no single Kobo was paid as ransom.

    He also insisted that the schoolboys were not abducted by Boko Haram, but bandits.

    He said, “Some hours ago, those assisting us in talks with the bandits said they have released all children in captivity. About 344 of them. And we have sent vehicles to transport them to Katsina.

    “We will direct our doctors to carry out medical examination on the children tomorrow morning. They have spent six-day in the forest. We will change their clothes and we will hand them over to their parents,” Masari said.

    Speaking in the same vein, Zamfara Governor said he facilitated the release of the 344 schoolboys without payment of ransom.

    Governor Matawalle told DAILY NIGERIAN, that he used repentant bandits and leadership of Miyetti Allah to identify those behind the abduction, and then started the negotiation process.

    “When we established contact with them, I persuaded them to release them unharmed. And so they did tonight. This is not the first time we facilitated the release of our people without payment of ransom.

    “Ask anybody, we don’t pay bandits a dime. What we do is to extend olive branch to them because they also want to live in peace.

    “As I speak to you, they are still on their way to Tsafe, from where they will come to Gusau and sleep. They will begin their journey to Katsina tomorrow morning,” the governor said.

    “Nothing like Boko Haram in this. The bandits did it,” the governor said while disputing the claim of Boko Haram that it was behind the abduction.

    The two governors did not speak on the video that circulated Thursday, in which the students pleaded for their freedom.

    Abubakar Shekau also spoke in the video and claimed that his men abducted the schoolboys.

  • Kidnapped FRSC officials counter police, admit paying N6m each before freedom

    Kidnapped FRSC officials counter police, admit paying N6m each before freedom

    The six Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials who were recently released from their abductors have said that no security agency rescued them.

    They said that each of them paid N6m to the kidnappers before they were freed.

    Police spokesman Ramham Nansel said no ramson was paid for their release.

    “They were rescued by the security agencies comprising police and soldiers supported by vigilante groups and hunters,” he said.

    But the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to BBC Hausa Service, said the police lied.

    One of them said, “What the police are saying is a big lie, there is no element of truth in it, the kidnappers established contact with our relatives, the money was withdrawn in Nasarawa town.

    “They instructed that only the driver should come with the money; when the driver brought the money, they kept us aside and counted it to ensure it was complete, but because it was getting dark, they did not finish and asked the driver to go with us while they also proceeded into the bush shooting in the air.”

    Another victim whose leg was amputated as a result of the gunshot from the incident said, “We paid ransom through our relatives before we were released; some paid N5m, others N6m.”

  • Kidnappers of ex-US army officer contact family, demand N20m ransom

    Kidnappers of ex-US army officer contact family, demand N20m ransom

    The kidnappers of a retired United States Army officer, Maj. Jide Ijadare, who was abducted at his palm oil factory on Ijan-Ise EKiti road have demanded N20 million ransom.

    Ijadare and one of his staff were abducted by gunmen at Ijan Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government area of Ekiti State, on Tuesday.

    A man identified as a contractor with the factory was allegedly shot dead by the kidnappers during the broad day attack.

    A member of Ijadare’s family confirmed to journalists via telephone, on Wednesday, that the abductors had contacted one of them and demanded for N20 million ransom.

    “Yes, they contacted one of the family members this morning (Wednesday) and demanded for the sum.

    “Though, the matter had been reported to the police since life was involved and they are also doing their own bit to ensure that the abducted are released in time.”

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr Sunday Abutu, said the command was not aware of any ransom being demanded by the abductors.

    “We are not aware of any ransom being demanded by the abductors. But our men are in the bush combing everywhere to ensure their release.

    “The police Commissoner, Mr Babatunde Mobayo had deployed different units of police operatives in the factory and the surrounding forests.

    “We are assuring the people that the abductees will be released safe and sound and in good health, but we appeal to the public to give us useful information that can help our men and other local hunters we are working with.”

    The retired military man’s abduction came barely 48 hours after the Director, General Administration with the Local Government Service Commission, Mr David Jejelowo, was shot dead by assailants.

    Jejelowo was killed at his residence at Igirigiri, Odo Ado area of Ado Ekiti metropolis.

  • Boko Haram kidnaps blind 75-year-old man’s daughter, niece; demands N20m ransom

    Boko Haram kidnaps blind 75-year-old man’s daughter, niece; demands N20m ransom

    Boko Haram members are demanding a ransom of N20 million from a 75 year old internally displaced blind man, Papa Jato Ndarfa before his daughter and niece will be released to him.

    The traumatized blind old man who is currently living at the CAN Centre IDPs Camp Maiduguri told journalists that he has appealed to the insurgents to have mercy on him and release his daughter and niece as he could not raise such amount of money being demanded.

    The distraught old man narrated that his daughter, Lami Jato, 25 a graduate of Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Maiduguri including his niece, Renita Bitrus were both abducted by some suspected Boko Haram terrorists two weeks ago at a farm in Tungushe, Magumeri Local Government area of Borno State alongside a tractor driver.

    Tungushe is located along Maiduguri- Monguno road, just 15km, north east from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Papa Jato informed that his children abductors made contact through his niece’s phone and requested for N20 million before his daughter, niece and the tractor driver will be released to him.

    The old man who fought with tear down his eyes lamented where and how he could raise such a huge amount of money to pay the terrorists but instead called on the insurgents to show mercy by releasing his children unconditionally.

    He disclosed that, his daughter Lami has remained the pillar of the family since 2014 when Boko Haram sacked their village and his three wives were missing up to this moment.

    He added that Lami and his niece decided to engage in the farming venture so as to raise money for the sustenance of the family at the camp and his personal care as well.

    His words: “It was two of them, my daughter, Lami Jato and my niece, Renita Bitrus who is married with two children that were abducted by the Boko Haram. It is 15 days now from the day they were abducted when they went for farming in Tungushe, along Maiduguri-Monguno road.

    “Initially they were 7 in number at the farm that were abducted. Five men, my daughter and my niece, but they later released four of the men and held one of the men, the tractor driver and my two children.

    “I am not fighting or quarrelling with the Boko Haram, they are my children. I am appealing to them to please have mercy on me and release my daughter, niece and the tractor driver.

    “I am a poor blind old IDP living in a Nylon House in a camp. There is no means of getting money to feed talk more of getting N20 million to offer. Please my children pity me and release the women who are also your sisters.

    “I am also appealing to our hardworking Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to come to my aid and intervene. I should not be allowed to die of frustration from what I am facing now. The situation is terrible for me here,” Papa Ndarfa appealed.

    Another appeal made by the old man was for the IDPs at the CAN Centre camp to be considered by State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEM) for the distribution of food, stressing that, “it has been a long time we received food from SEMA and NEMA at this camp.”

    Papa Jato, an indigene of Gava from Gwoza Local Government while speaking on his journey to IDP camp in Maiduguri said they fled to Maiduguri when Boko Haram attacked their village in 2014 and killed over 100 villagers and burnt down several houses.

    He added that since 2014 they have been living in the CAN Centre IDPs camp.

  • Photo: Kidnappers abduct, kill three final year UNIPORT students after receiving ransom

    Photo: Kidnappers abduct, kill three final year UNIPORT students after receiving ransom

    Three 400 level students of the Univeristy of Port Harcourt kidnapped on April 7 have been discovered dead in Eleme area of Rivers State.

    The victims identified as Joy Adoki Nelson Nwafor and Fortune Obemba were declared missing by the police on April 19 after Adoki’s brother, Umor, filed a compliant at Eleme Police Division.

    According to The Nation, days after they disappeared, their kidnappers contacted their families and demanded ransom.

    Despite payment of ransom, it was gathered that the kidnappers failed to release the students as promised, leaving their families confused.

    According to the report, with the complaint made by Adoki’s brother, detectives in Rivers State arrested one Bright alias Nelly, who led investigators to two principal suspects in the kidnap identified as Friday Akpan and Emmanuel both resident in Eteo, Eleme.

    It was learnt that Akpan confessed to the police the three suspects were killed and buried in shallow graves at Eleme.

    The suspects led investigators to the scene of the murder around 6 am on Friday where the three decomposing bodies of the victims were recovered.

    The suspects, police sources said, also confessed to various kidnappings.

    However, the Rivers State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement concerning the development as at the time of filing this report.

  • Ekiti Commissioner’s kidnappers reduce ransom to N15milllion

    Ekiti Commissioner’s kidnappers reduce ransom to N15milllion

    The kidnappers of the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Folorunso Olabode, have slashed the ransom demanded from N30 million to N15 million.

    The abductors had on Monday contacted his family and demanded a sum of N30 million ransom to secure the commissioner’s release.

    Olabode and one other whose identity was still unknown were kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Iludun-Isan road on his way from Ado-Ekiti to Iye-Ekiti around 7.30 pm on Sunday.

    A councillor and House Leader at the Ilejemeje local government area of the state and one other occupant of the vehicle conveying the abductees was shot dead on the spot

    A family source has now revealed to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday said that the ransom was reduced in the process of negotiating with the captors.

    “The process of negotiation began on Monday and the initial request was a sum of N30 million.

    “But as of today, Wednesday, the captors had reduced to N15 million. We are hoping that the Commissioner will be released soon because we are all concerned about his safety”, he said.

    Speaking on the security measures being taken to secure Olabode’s release, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said the police and other security networks are on the trail of the bandits.

    Abutu added that the police and other security have begun serious stop and search along the route to ascertain the identities of commuters.

    He said the police were not aware of any negotiation on the demand made by the abductors, assuring that every security measures would be put in place to secure Olabode’s release.

    “We are not aware that the bandits were requesting for any ransom, we have not been told.

    “The police have begun serious security checks in that axis. We have taken strict security measures and we are closing in on them”, he said.

  • Gunmen kidnap Amaechi’s mother, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen kidnap Amaechi’s mother, demand N20m ransom

    Unknown gunmen have kidnapped Madam Appolonia Amaechi, the mother of Ikechukwu Amaechi, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche Newspapers.

    According to reports, the kidnappers have also demanded N20million as ransom for the 79-year-old grandmother and a retired teacher, who was abducted on Tuesday, March 3.

    Her son Ikechukwu, while narrating the incident to journalists disclosed that his mother was forcefully taken from her home at Ahiazu in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State around 8:30 pm.

    “It is true. My younger sister called and she was crying. I asked what the issue was, and she said that they kidnapped my mother in the village,” Amaechi explained.

    “That my mother had just finished dinner and was in the living room watching television when three men with guns and faces covered came in and went straight after her.

    “That she was crying and shouting, and they bundled her into a car they drove into my compound and left.”

    “My younger brother’s wife, my young cousin in SS3, among those to sit for WAEC this year. You know the way the village setting is, so my cousin, a school principal was around.”

    The publisher also confirmed that the abductors have made contact, through his sister-in-law’s phone which they took when they stormed the residence.

    “It was the phone they used in calling me the following day that they wanted to talk to me. I said okay. They confirmed that they were kidnappers and have my mother.

    “They said I should talk to her. I spoke to my mother and asked where she was. She said that they were inside the bush and that the Tuesday night rain fell on her.

    “She said at a stage, they gave her umbrella as a shade. I asked if she had eaten anything, she said that they gave her N100 cracker biscuit.

    “So, they took the phone and told me that if I want to see my mother, I should bring N20million. We’ve been talking since then and I have informed the security people. That is where we are”.

    The kidnappers are insisting on the requested amount even as their location remains unknown.

    Madam Amaechi is said to be diabetic and has been in captivity without her drugs.

  • Kidnapping: FG must refund ransom paid by Nigerians to free their loved ones – Falana

    Kidnapping: FG must refund ransom paid by Nigerians to free their loved ones – Falana

    Nigerian activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has reacted to the insecurity challenges the country is currently facing, he urged Nigerians paying a ransom to secure freedom for their abducted loved ones to feel free to approach the courts to compel the federal government to refund same because, in his words, “the responsibility for protecting lives and properties lies squarely with the government.”

    Falana disclosed this yesterday at the 18th Anti-Corruption Situation Room, ACSR, organized by the HEDA Resource Centre in partnership with the McArthur Foundation.

    The senior advocate who was the keynote speaker at the event also flayed anti-graft agencies in the land for what he called the selective prosecution of corrupt cases; a development he stressed, makes winning the fight against corruption difficult.

    Falana said: “If a family pays a ransom to secure freedom of their abducted ones; they should approach the courts and demand a refund of the amount paid because the primary responsibility of government is to secure the people.”

  • Kidnapped monarch’s wife dies in captivity after ransom payment

    Kidnapped monarch’s wife dies in captivity after ransom payment

    The 76-year-old wife of the traditional ruler of Ihitteoha Uratta community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Ugoeze Comfort Okoro, who was kidnapped late January, has died in captivity.

    The family of the deceased confirmed her death. The corpse of the woman was found along a village road in Akabor community in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

    This is also as the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, following valid intelligence report, raided the house of Okey Uche, who is from the same village as the deceased. Incidentally, Uche is currently serving prison term at the Owerri Correctional Centre. He, however, was fingered in the kidnap of the deceased.

    Police are working on the theory that Uche masterminded the abduction of Comfort. Uche’s wife, it was alleged, harboured the kidnappers in her house until the police raid that smoked them out of the hideout.

    The monarch’s wife was kidnapped in the presence of her husband and other domestic staff on January 26, 2020, barely a month after the monarch and wife celebrated their golden jubilee wedding anniversary.

    Prince Paul Okoro, younger brother to His Royal Highness, Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okoro, who confirmed the incident, said Comfort’s death came after the family had paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

    According to him, the body of the woman was found last Sunday afternoon at Akabor Oguta, where the kidnappers dumped it.

    He said: “On January 26, 2020, a group of boys stormed the palace here and rounded up the guards and other people at gunpoint. They met the Eze and his wife upstairs about 8:30p.m. The kidnappers collected everybody’s phones, including that of the Eze. They took Ugoeze away. It was after they left that one of the servants came to me, to call the president general of the community.

    “We waited for a ransom demand from the kidnapper but none came until three days later when they called her daughter. The daughter is the wife of the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Ikenna Elezianya, demanding a ransom for her mother.”

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) could not be reached on the matter.

    But a police source said the command had arrested some people in connection with the abduction and death of the monarch’s wife.

    The police are also said to be on the trail of other fleeing members of the gang.

    Meanwhile, the demolition of the prime suspect’s home in line with the Anti-Kidnapping Law of Imo State may have commenced as our correspondent met parts of his house and shop of his wife destroyed and ransacked.

  • Kidnapped Imo monarch’s wife dies after ransom payment

    The death of a 76-year-old woman and wife of the traditional ruler of Ihitoha Uratta community, Owerri North council area of Imo State, Ugoeze Comfort Okoro in the custody of kidnappers has been confirmed by the family.

    The corpse of the woman was reportedly found along a village road in Akabor community in Oguta Local Government Area of the state

    It was gathered that the monarch’s wife was kidnapped before her husband and other domestic staff on Sunday, January 26 2020 barely one month after she and her husband celebrated 50th wedding anniversary.

    Prince Paul Okoro, younger brother to HRH Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okoro Oha 1 of Ihitoha Uratta, who confirmed the incident described it as sad, saying the death came after the family had paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

    He said before the woman was taken away, there were sporadic shootings, which left the woman panicking before she was moved away.

    According to him, the body of the woman was found last Sunday afternoon where it was dumped at Akabor Oguta.

    He said: “On Sunday January 26, 2020, a group of boys stormed the palace here and gathered the guards and all around at point and met the Eze and wife upstairs around 8.30 pm.

    “They collected everybody’s phones including that of the Eze. They took Ugoeze away. It was after they left that one of the servants came to me to call the president general of the community that the unthinkable has happened.

    “We waited for a call from them. But none came until three days later when they called his daughter, who is the wife of the member, representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Ikenna Elezianya, demanding a ransome.

    “Her corpse was recovered at Akabor Oguta LGA where it was dumped”.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the spokesman of State Police Command, Orlando Ikokwu, failed through as he could not answer calls nor responded to messages sent to his phone.

    But, a member of the anti-kidnapping Unit, said the Police had arrested some suspects linked to the act.

    He, however, said that the police would leave no stone upturned in ensuring the arrest and of the other perpetrators of the heinous crime.