Tag: Kidnappers

  • Kidnappers Murder Pastor After Taking ₦2m for Ransom

    Kidnappers Murder Pastor After Taking ₦2m for Ransom

    A Lagos-based pastor, Frederick Aramuwa who was kidnapped while travelling along the Ipele/Idoani Road in Ondo State has been found dead.

    Aramuwa was said to be travelling from Lagos to his hometown, Ifira-Akoko in Ondo State and was discovered to be missing since March 31.

    Subsequently, his kinsmen embarked on a rigorous search for him and equally reported the case to the police. However, it was discovered that the deceased was kidnapped and his captors demanded ₦10 million ransom, which was reduced to ₦2 million after negotiations.

    Reports had it that after the ₦2 million ransom was paid, it was the lifeless body of the pastor that was discovered in the forest.

    The remains of the deceased have since been deposited in the morgue at the General Hospital, Ipe-Akoko.

    When contacted, the spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed the death of the pastor on Sunday.

    Ikoro disclosed that the deceased’s remains were discovered tied to a tree in the forest.

    He added that some other persons kidnapped along with the pastor have been rescued by the police.

    The police spokesperson noted that the police is investigating the incident and hope to apprehend the perpetrators in no distant time.

  • BREAKING: Buhari orders crack down on Bandits, Kidnappers and Sponsors

    BREAKING: Buhari orders crack down on Bandits, Kidnappers and Sponsors

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the service chiefs and other security and intelligence coordinators of the nation to mark and take out bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors.

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after a security meeting, chaired by President Buhari in the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, the President also warned the security chiefs that a situation where criminals dictate the pace of security events in the country should be ended immediately, ordering them to be proactive.


    He added that President Buhari also insisted that all the decisions approved at the recently held National Security Council meeting, including the ban on mining activities in Zamfara and the no-fly-zone order, remain in force until further notice.

    Details shortly..

  • Gov Masari gives reason Nigeria is attractive to bandits, kidnappers

    Gov Masari gives reason Nigeria is attractive to bandits, kidnappers

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said Nigeria is economically attractive to kidnappers and bandtry in the Sahel region of Africa.

    Masari explained that kidnappers find Nigeria attractive because the country is the richest country in the Sahel region of Africa.

    He spoke during his appearance on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.

    The governor stressed that banditry and kidnapping pays more in Nigeria than other countries of the Sahel region.

    Masari said: “There are kidnappers, there are bandits around but look at the whole world and look at the position of Nigeria in the Sahelian region. Are we not the richest? So, the attraction even for kidnappers to come to Nigeria is there.

    “If you kidnap somebody in Mali, where are you going to get thousands? If I kidnap you in Nigeria, I get millions. So, all of us will have to rise to the occasion.

    “In my state, the bandits kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is something we must work hard to stop.”

    Banditry and kidnapping have worsened in the North, with students and residents being their target.

    Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna States have been the most affected by banditry, while other regions of Nigeria have also experienced kidnapping.

  • SOKOTO: Police Command Parade Arrested Criminals, Kidnappers

    SOKOTO: Police Command Parade Arrested Criminals, Kidnappers

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto

    The Command is facing serious challenges as recorded from the tremendous successes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.

    The state Commissioner of Police CP Kola Okunlola who briefed the press today on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide said on the first of March Faruk and Mansur all of Bodinga local government reported that large number of unknown bandits invaded their community and carted away some properties and similarly killed one Bello and kidnapped Maryam Umar.

    One of the gang members Abubakar was arrested in connection of the crime possessing AK 47, while others are still at large.

    On the case of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy that occurred on the 12th of this March at Tambagarka village of Wurno local government investigation through reports led to the arrest of two persons who are still under investigation.

    In a related development, criminal conspiracy,kidnapping and armed robbery on the 11th of this month, men of the command arrested Abdullahi Modi in Tangaza local government area.

    The Commissioner who also disclosed a number of attacks and terrorisms at Goronyo, Wurno, Rabah and other local government areas called on the people of Sokoto, groups individuals to always report any suspected person or movements while the command assured guaranty of lives of those that offer to give accurate reports whether informants or individuals.

    Mr. said accurate report may attract payment and safety of lives as the police force was established the safeguard lives and properties of humanity.

  • Nigeria Has Become Economically Attractive To Kidnappers, Says Governor Masari

    Nigeria Has Become Economically Attractive To Kidnappers, Says Governor Masari

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State says Nigeria has become economically attractive to kidnappers and bandits within the Sahel region of the continent. 

    The governor who on Wednesday was on Channels Television’s Politics, strongly opposed the idea of granting blanket amnesty to the bandits, stating that the idea is enabling the miscreants to continue with their crimes.

    Masari argued that the security situation in the country has improved since the All Progressives Congress took the reigns.

    “When we started in 2015 in the North-West, it was cattle-rustling. Gradually, it now developed into banditry, rape, kidnappings. When all that they (bandits) can steal from the villagers along the fringes finished, they moved to the rustling of goats, sheep, and even chicken.

    “What we should do and what the government should do now is (about) high-profile kidnapping. In my state, they kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is the danger, that is something we must work hard to stop,” the governor opined.

    Masari also kicked against the intervention of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in quelling the banditry activities in the northwest.

    He questioned the cleric’s knowledge on security issues.

    “Was he there? What did he know about what we did in Kaduna? I challenge Gumi to come and tell us if he knows what we did in Kaduna,” the governor asked in reaction to Gumi’s stance on how the state government should handle banditry.

    Speaking further on why he does not support Sheikh Gumi’s intervention, Masari said the cleric did not go about it the right way.

    “I expect him to, first of all, preach to them (the bandits), the implication of killing innocent people and also the implication of abducting people and its consequences. That is what I expect a clergyman first and foremost to do,” the governor noted.

  • Jengebe: Matawalle opens up, says kidnappers were offered money not to release abducted girls

    Jengebe: Matawalle opens up, says kidnappers were offered money not to release abducted girls

    Zamfara governor Bello Matawalle on Tuesday said while the state was in negotiation with kidnappers of Jangebe schoolgirls, the armed men were offered money by unnamed persons not to release the girls.

    Matawalle spoke when he was addressing the freed Jangebe schoolgirls on Tuesday.

    He said he would soon reveal the mystery behind the abduction of the girls adding that those instigating criminals should be careful.

    He said he talked to the relevant security agencies including the police, DSS and army to discreetly investigate the matter.

    “I didn’t sleep for four days. We worked hard for days to ensure the safe return of the girls to their families. We are using kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, and the non-kinetic is working for us. If not, we wouldn’t have successfully negotiated the release of these girls, ” he said.

    He said the abducted and freed girls were 279 and all were released.

  • Buhari Declares war on Bandits, Kidnappers, Criminals

    Buhari Declares war on Bandits, Kidnappers, Criminals

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said there will be no softening of the ongoing measures aimed at tackling insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals constituting a threat to innocent citizens across the country.

    The President gave the warning through his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, during a security meeting of the Northern State Governor’s Forum and traditional rulers in Kaduna State.

    President Buhari admitted that the country is battling with different dimensions of security challenges, but added that he has asked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end the ugly situation.

    Meanwhile, the Northern Governors have resolved to partner with the Federal Government and their Southern counterparts in tackling the challenges.

    Thursday’s meeting, which took place at the Kaduna state government house, came barely two weeks after governors of the Northwest zone held a similar meeting with the service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser to discuss ways to address the issue of banditry and kidnapping bedeviling the zone.

    Among the governors who attended the meeting were those of Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, as well as the Deputy Governors of Bauchi, Kogi, Zamfara, Benue, and Niger states.

    In their opening remarks, the host Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Chairman of the forum, Simon Lalong said the meeting was long overdue and crucial for the progress of the North and the country in general.

    While El-Rufai urged his colleagues to adopt strategies to forestall all forms of security challenges in the North, Governor Lalong regretted the attacks and killings menacing the region, noting that it is the responsibility of governors and other leaders to find lasting solutions to the problem.

    He also described the recent kidnap of school children in Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State as a wake-up call for leaders and also as a sad reminder of the difficult situation the north is facing.

    On the issue of herder-farmer clashes, which has in recent weeks generated serious concerns because of the harsh rhetoric from various parts of the country, Lalong agreed that open grazing is no longer sustainable for obvious reasons.

    He also reiterated that the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has keyed into the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP), a veritable option that will go a long way in ending the clashes through organised ranching.

    The northern governors also appealed to their colleagues in other parts of the country and all citizens particularly opinion leaders to be cautious in their utterances and actions, warning that such unguided utterances could provide the oxygen for the exploitation of the nation’s fault lines to the detriment of the entire country.

  • Bandits release video of travelers abducted in Niger State

    Bandits release video of travelers abducted in Niger State

    Kidnappers operating in Niger state have released a video showing 21 commuters that were abducted along the Tegina-Zungeru highway in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state on Sunday, February 14.

    The victims were abducted while traveling in a bus belonging to the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA). A statement released by the state government on Tuesday, February 16, said ten of the passengers had been freed without a ransom paid.

    There are reports that the terrorists are demanding a ransom of N500 million to release the remaining victims in the captive.

    Kidnappers release video of travellers abducted in Niger State
    Kidnappers release video of travellers abducted in Niger State
  • Kidnappers demands N52m ransom on 26 Taraba youths

    Kidnappers demands N52m ransom on 26 Taraba youths

    Abductors of 26 youths from Takum local government area of Taraba have demanded N52 million ransom for their release.

    A relation of one of the victims, who pleaded anonymity, said the kidnappers have established contacts with the affected families and are demanding N2m ransom per head.

    He said there was reliable information the kidnappers have moved the victims into a forest situated between Takum local government in Taraba and Katsina-Ala in Benue State.


    The sources further disclosed in revenge to the abduction of the 26 victims, youths in Takum on Thursday evening attacked Tivs resident in Takum and abducted 31 persons, including women and children.

    He said the abducted Tivs are hostage in an unknown hideout in Takum.

    The Takum youths, according to him, have fingered Tivs for the abduction of their kinsmen.

    He said they also vowed to kill the 31 Tivs in their custody should anything happen to their kinsmen.

    Taraba Police spokesman DSP David Misal confirmed the kidnappers have established communication with relations of the victims.

    He appealed to Takum youths to exercise patience, promising the police was making concerted efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped victims.

  • Court Remands Four Kidnappers, Fixes March 2, 2021 For Hearing

    Court Remands Four Kidnappers, Fixes March 2, 2021 For Hearing

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Tuesday remanded four Kidnappers in prison custody for an alledged Terrorism, Hostage taking, Conspiracy, Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping, contrary to Section 2 (H), 15, 17 and 18 of Terrorism ( Prevention) ( Amendment) Act 2013.

    The accused persons, Tukur Abdulrahaman, Abubakar Ibrahim aka Aguma, Haruna Adamu and Umar Gambo, who are defendants in two separate suits between the State Security Services in Koton-Karfe had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    According to the charges read to hearing of the accused persons: Tukur Abdulrahaman 38 and Abubakar Ibrahim 45, all male and Fulani by tribe were accused of Kidnapping one Shauibu sometimes in July, 2020, at Okpella – Okene road, and held him in captivity, under severe torture, leading to his death.

    Similarly, the accused persons were also accused of kidnapping ten passengers along Okpella Okene road traveling in a commercial bus and demanded ransome of N16million.

    The accused persons were also accused of regularly supplying logistics, foodstuffs and acted as surveillance to Kidnap gang led by Tukur Abdulrahaman.

    Umar Gambo, was accused of  Kidnapping four persons, punishable under section 1(3) cii and punishable under section 2(h) of Terrorism Act 2013.

    Gambo, 25, a fulani, was also accused to have on 11th September, 2020 at Oguda road along Okene, Kidnap Bose Ibrahim from a commercial bus and three other passengers, held in captivity for four days, until the payment of N250, 000 was paid as ransom before they were released.

    O.Y. Yahaya, Prosecuting Counsel, said having pleaded not guilty by the accused persons, asked for another date to commence trial of the matter and asked the court to remand all the defendants in Kabba Correctional centre.

    Counsels to the Defendants, S.A. Abbas, O.C. Fasanyin, did not object to the plea by the prosecuting Counsel, counsequently, Justice D.U Okoruwa, adjourned the matter till the 2nd of March, 2021 for hearing.