TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ransom

  • Killings: Herdsmen holding Nigeria to ransom, tame them now, PDP tells Buhari

    Nigeria’s main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday charged the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government to tame the herdsmen who have embarked on a killing spree in Nigeria since January.

    The party’s stance was made known by its chairman, Prince Uche Secondus in a reaction to the latest killings of some priests and worshippers in Benue on Tuesday.

    Secondus made the call in a condolence message to the Benue Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, and the Catholic Church in Nigeria on killing of worshipers in a church in Benue by armed herdsmen on Tuesday.

    The herdsmen murdered two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers at St. Ignatius Quashi Catholic Church at Ukpor-Mbalom in the Gwer Local Government Area of Benue.

    Secondus in the statement, issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ike Abonyi, on Wednesday in Abuja decried the continued blood-letting in Benue and other parts of the country.

    He stressed that the apparent inability of the government to stem the killings had raised a lot of concern on the future of the country.

    “From whichever angle you are witnessing what is happening in this country, one thing is agreeable that this country is sliding dangerously.

    “Nigerians and the global community have continued to watch.

    “In the last one week, we have watched as disturbing indices continue to crop up, ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Secondus admonished security operatives to ensure that their patriotism was to the country.

    “I find it unexplainable that some group of gunmen should hold a state to ransom since January, killing and maiming citizens and destroying their houses and the security operatives appear helpless.

    “Where are the military operatives that carried out Python and Crocodile dances in the South-East and South-South?

    “How can anybody expect Benue State for instance to contribute its own share of the $1billion security vote when the national security architecture is not designed to protect their people?’’

  • Kidnappers free wife, son of Nigerian journalist after receiving N2m ransom

    The wife and son of a journalist who were kidnapped on Wednesday have been released.

    The victims were kidnapped when the attackers stormed the Kaduna home of Nasiru Yakubu, a journalist with Voice of America.

    Recall that a neighbour of Yakubu who tried to stop the kidnappers was killed in the process.

    ‎Yakubu confirmed the release of his family, saying he paid N2 million as ransom.

    “Slm. Friends I’m happy to inform you that my wife and her kid were released by their abductors this night after collecting 2million Naira as ransom.

    “I appreciate your concern ALL!” he wrote on his Facebook wall.

    The kidnappers earlier demanded N12 million ransom but later reduced to N2 million after negotiations.

  • Kidnappers of Nigerian journalist’s wife, son demand N12 million ransom

    The abductors of the wife and son of a Nigerian journalist have asked for a N12 million ransom for their release.

    Nasiru Yakubu, a journalist with Voice of America, Hausa Service, posted on his Facebook wall Wednesday morning that kidnappers stormed his house at Birnin Yero, a small community in Kaduna State, at about 1:30 a.m. and took away his wife and son.

    A source close to the family confided in newsmen on Wednesday evening that they were still negotiating to rescue the captives.

    “They called him (Yakubu) this afternoon demanding N12 million ransom,” said the source who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak with journalists on the matter.

    “The money is too much for the family but we are negotiating to see how the wife and child will return home safely,” he said.

    The source declined to make further comments so as not to jeopardise the safety of the victims.

    “We don’t know who is listening. That is why we are being careful talking about the issue. Our concern for now is to see how they will be freed safely, God willing,” he said.

    Recall that the journalist was not at home when the kidnappers arrived his resident Wednesday night around 1:30 a.m.

    ‎His neighbour and staff of FRSC was shot dead by the kidnappers when he tried to stop them.

     

  • Killings: Benue increases ransom on gang leader from N10m to N50m

    The Benue State Security Council has jerked up the ransom placed on a terror gang leader and most wanted criminal in the state, Mr. Terwas Akwasa, aka Gana, from N10m to N50m.

    The state security council had, in 2016, declared Gana wanted and placed a ransom of N10m on his head.

    Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lawrence Onoja Jnr, made this known on Thursday when he was briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state security council meeting held at Government House, Makurdi.

    Onoja said the upward review of the ransom was necessitated by the elevated crisis going on in Katsina Ala-Ukum axis.

    The commissioner further said the state security council had placed a ban on the use of covered number plates and indiscriminate use of siren in the state.

    He added that traditional rulers across the state have been given up to the end of February to stop concealing their number plates.

    The commissioner reiterated that the state government neither owns nor sponsors any militia, stating that no member of Livestock Guard in the state is allowed to carry arms.

    The state security council condemned the killings in Gboko on Wednesday and explained that the victims of the attack were not Fulanis.

    He assured residents of adequate protection of lives and property.

    The council appealed to people of the state to continue to obey the law and not to take law into their own hands.

     

  • JUST IN: Abductors of Plateau PDP chairman, son demand N100m ransom

    The abductors of Plateau State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Damishi Sango, have demanded a ransom of N100 million for his release.

    The former Minister of Sports was kidnapped on Wednesday by unknown gunmen. Also abducted with him are his son, driver, a prominent chieftain of the PDP in Plateau State and another victim that is yet to be identified.

    The Publicity Secretary of PDP in Plateau State, John Akans told our correspondent that the kidnappers have contacted the family and have demanded N100 million ransom.

    He said, “The kidnappers have contacted the family of Damishi Sango and are demanding for N100 million. The family spoke with him and he assured them that he is safe. None of the five persons including, his son, have been released.

    “They are still in the captivity of their abductors. From what they demanded, we are waiting to see whether they will come down from tomorrow. I’m on my way to Abuja.”

     

    Details later…

  • Gunmen kidnap former Ekiti senator, driver, demand N80m ransom

    A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has been abducted by unknown gunmen.

    He was kidnapped on Sunday along the Okene-Lokoja road while on his way to Abuja.

    A source who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday said that the senator’s abductors have contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.

    He was reportedly kidnapped alongside his driver and taken to an unknown location.

    Arise attended a ceremony in Ikere-Ekiti where chieftaincy titles were conferred on a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin and his wife, Chinyere by the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu.

    He later played golf at the Ado-Ekiti Golf Course along Poly Road before retiring to his country home to hold political meetings with his supporters.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, an aide to Arise said: “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.

    “When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6:00 p.m. So the kidnap must have taken place around 7:00 p.m.

    “They have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80m ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.

    “The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies including the police to come to our aid.”

    The politician is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next year’s governorship poll in Ekiti.

    He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC shortly before the 2015 general elections.

     

     

  • 1 year after: Oba Goriola reveals how N15m ransom was paid to secure his freedom

    The trial of four suspects in the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Oba Goriola Oseni, commenced on Friday at a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, with a revelation from two witnesses that the abductors allegedly obtained two ransoms worth N15.1million.

    TheNewsGuru.com reveals that the monarch who was abducted from his palace by some gunmen on July 16 last year was held in captive for close to three weeks before he was released.

    The first to fourth defendants Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh were arraigned for the alleged offence before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24. They are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, felony and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos State Government. At the commencement of proceedings, Lagos State

    Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who led a team of counsel for the state, obtained leave of court to exclude the public from the trial. Led in examination by Kazeem, Oseni, 73, testified as first prosecution witness and narrated how at about 8pm on July 16, he was kidnapped while watching TV in a room at the palace and held in captivity for three weeks in an unknown riverine camp.

    “‘This is the king,’ the gunmen said. I said, ‘what can I do for you?’ Then they grabbed me. I was putting on only a boxer short because I was preparing to take a bath. My Oloris (queens) came in and asked them where they were taking me to but they fled when the gunmen released bullets gunshots into the decking of the room. They started pushing me and shouting ‘trek, trek’, till I fell and injured my arm. My toe nail was also forcibly removed, so they carried me,” Oseni said.

    He pointed at the first, second and third defendants in the dock as being part of his alleged abductors, but explained that the fourth defendant was one of those that used to visit the camp.

     

  • Freed Chibok Girls: ‘We did not pay a dime to Boko Haram’ – FG

    Freed Chibok Girls: ‘We did not pay a dime to Boko Haram’ – FG

    The Federal Government on Monday denied a report released by the BBC that it paid the sum of two million euros to Boko Haram to secure the release of the 82 school girls abducted by the Islamic terrorist group in 2014 in Chibok, Borno State.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the denial on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Mohammed insisted that apart from the five commanders of the group that were freed, no other deal was reached.

    According to him “Apart from the five Boko Haram commanders, the exchange of which we have already made public, no other concession was made.

    “Any other thing to the contrary is absolutely false.

    “I emphatically deny on behalf of the Federal Government that any sum of ransom was paid in exchange of the 82 Chibok girls.”

     

  • Turkish expatriates’ abductors demand N200m ransom

    Abductors of two Turkish expatriates in Akwa Ibom have demanded N200 million to release them.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the victims were abducted on April 10 from their Airstrip Hotel room in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

    A security source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket that the abductors had been in touch with the BKS Construction Company in Onna Local Government Area where the expatriates work.

    He said that the abductors contacted the construction company and demanded N200 million as ransom to release them.

    “The abductors have demanded the sum of N200 million before the victims could be released to the company.

    “The company is negotiating with the abductors to secure the release of the victims,” the source said.

    According to the source, the firm is offering N500,000.

    The State Police Public Relations, ASP Chilly Ikechukwu, said the police were not aware of the ransom.

     

  • Kidnappers of German Professor, associate demand N60m ransom

    The kidnappers of German archaeologist, Professor Peter Breunig, and his associate, Johannes Buringer have demanded a N60 million ransom before their victims can regain freedom.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the two foreigners were kidnapped in Jenjela village in the Kagarko Local Government of Kaduna State on Wednesday, February 22.

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, had earlier ordered Special Forces to secure the immediate release of the two abducted archaeologists.

    Also, Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had summoned the Inspector-General of Police over the kidnap of foreigners in Kaduna on Thursday.

    However, according to a report by The Punch, a spokesman for the kidnappers is said to have made the demand of the N60 million ransome and warned against the involvement of security agents.

    Meanwhile, Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood earlier revealed that the professor didn’t go along with his security details to the site where he was kidnapped.

    In his words: “Though the German archaeologists have police officers attached to them for their protection at the NOK Archaeology Research Project Centre, they did not go with the policemen to the excavation site where they were kidnapped.

    “The Nigeria Police Force, while assuring all Nigerians and foreign nationals in the country of their safety, wishes to implore them to always request and obtain police escort to protect them any time they are embarking on research, mining and related endeavours outside the towns and cities across the country,” he added.