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Tag: Kidnappers

  • Kidnappers abduct 11 from Orphanage Home

    Kidnappers abduct 11 from Orphanage Home

    Eleven people have been kidnapped from an orphanage in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The abductees, all orphans at Rachael’s Orphanage Home in Naharati, Abaji Area Council, were kidnapped on Saturday, Jan 23.

    The gunmen, who arrived in large numbers with sophisticated weapons, also robbed the orphanage’s security guard and his two wives.

    They reportedly forced the gate open and went into the rooms of the orphans, and took 11 of them away at gunpoint.

    The police has pledged to rescue those kidnapped and bring their abductors to justice.

    Police spokesperson Yusuf Mariam said: “We have launched strategic operations to rescue them and arrest the perpetrators.”

  • Hunters Rescue 19 Victims, Arrest Six Kidnappers in Kogi

    Hunters Rescue 19 Victims, Arrest Six Kidnappers in Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Hunters Group of Nigeria (HGN) in Kogi have Rescued 19 kidnapped victims and arrested six Kidnappers at kabba junction in Adavi Local government area following a tipoff.

    The Chairman of the group, Mr Inusa Bature, who disclosed this while speaking with our reporter said the suspects were linked to the recent Kidnapping in the area.

    “We got the information that some travellers were kidnapped,we swiftly mobilised to the identified location where they had contact and engaged the criminals in fire fight.”

    “During the encounter, we overwhelmed the bandits and shot one of them, while others took to their heels. We later arrested six out of twelve kidnappers as we are optimistic that the remaining 6 would be arrested” Bature assured

    One of the victims, Mr Magaji Francis said they were traveling to Adamawa from Lagos on reaching kabba junction, their vehicle was stopped by kidnappers and four of them were kidnapped.

    “They selected four of us while they freed the driver and some passengers, they ceased our phones after they communicated with our families and demanded for ₦50 million ransom” he said.

    He explained further that their captors were Fulanis and they beat them with Cutlass, starve them, tight them and threatened to kill them if their relatives failed to pay the ransom.

    “We thank Hunters Group of Nigeria for saving our lives, it’s them that God used to rescue us” he said.

    Another victim who spent three days in the hands of kidnappers narrated her experience
    ” My name is akangi Saidu, we are traveling to Lagos from Adamawa,we were kidnapped at about 3 am along Lokoja- Okene road,they collected our money and phones.”

    One of the Kidnappers said “Am from Zaria in Kaduna state, while two others are from Katsina state, we were invited by Oga and Yello to take part in a Kidnapping operation along Lokoja – Okene highway.”

    “We are twelve in number that kidnapped our victims and collected₦1.5 million before we were arrested by the hunters ” he said.

    Chairman of Adavi Local Council Mr. Joseph Omasa Salami, who visited some of the victims at Alheri hospital kabba junction, described the situations as pathetic.

    Salami commended the HGN and other security agencies for their efforts toward curbing crime in the area.

    Items recovered from suspects are two toy local guns, army uniforms and Eight mobile phones among others.

  • Suspected armed robbers and kidnappers escape from police custody in Calabar

    Suspected armed robbers and kidnappers escape from police custody in Calabar

    About 19 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers have reportedly escaped from police custody in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    The suspects who escaped between Saturday night and Sunday morning December 13, after using a hacksaw to cut the key to the cell, were reportedly being detained at the police headquarters in Diamond Hill, Calabar. 

    CrossRiverWatch reported that the station guard on night duty and some other officers on duty have been detained. 

  • Leave us with Covid-19 if you can’t protect us from bandits, Kidnappers, others – Church tells FG

    Leave us with Covid-19 if you can’t protect us from bandits, Kidnappers, others – Church tells FG

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    Church leader has said that if federal government cannot protect them and members from armed bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers, it should leave them alone with covid-19 disease.
    An Assistance Catholic Priest, Rev. father Juel Usman, made the remarks on Sunday during sermon he delivered at Catholic Archdiocese of kaduna, St. Mary’s Catholic Parish church, Unguam Boro, kaduna.

    Federal Government, according to the priest, said religious worship centres, churches and mosques, are the breeding  places of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “People who suppose to talk, don’t want to talk about it. I’ll continue to talk. I’ll not stop taking about it”, he said. He said that the church would rather preferred covid-19, than to died in the hands of bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers ravaging the country.

    Earlier, Rev. Usman, the third mass priest, threw the challenge question on the members of the congregation whether they preferred bandits, Kidnappers and armed robbers to covid-19, and got anticipated respond.
    He lamented that “Even if we protect ourselves fro’m Covid-19, diseases, there’s no guarantee that we’ll survive bandits, kidnappers and armed robberies attacks and killings.

    Rev. Usman who was wearing face mask while through out the church service however urged members to ensure they embarked on  personal protective measures against the Covid-19, saying any members without face mask will not be allowed entry into the church next Sunday. While he caution against government planned lockdown, the priest appealed to members to complied with all Covid-19 protocols by wearing face mask, wash hands regularly, sanitize and avoid clouded places where necessary.

    He also appealed to women to cooperate and avoid anything that would put pressure on their husbands already preoccupied and troubled with many problem during Christmas, while begging children to shield off Christmas cloths this years. He lamented the recent invasion of the government science secondary School in katsina state and several others, kidnapping students.

  • Transnational Kidnappers Of Rescued American Citizen – Philippe Nathan Walton, Arrested

    Transnational Kidnappers Of Rescued American Citizen – Philippe Nathan Walton, Arrested

    By Mike Oboh

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two members of a trans-national kidnap syndicate involved in the kidnap of an American Citizen, Philippe Nathan Walton, on 28th October, 2020 at his farm in Masalata Village, Republic of Niger.

     The suspects, Aliyu Abdullahi ‘m’ 21yrs a.k.a Mallam and Aliyu Umaru ‘m’ 23yrs a.k.a Kwatte Kusu, both from Sokoto State, were arrested on 25th November, 2020.

    The suspects – members of a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/Nigerien extraction, led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda – were arrested following a special intelligence-led operation aimed at arresting the criminal gang, disrupting and halting other criminal activities by them.

    Investigations by the Intelligence Response Team reveal that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – 4 Nigeriens and 2 Nigerians who died during the rescue operations. The Force is collaborating with its Nigerien counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large.

    Meanwhile, as part of efforts at tackling transnational crimes, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, is working in concert with other members of the West African Police Chiefs Organization (WAPCO) to deepen intelligence sharing amongst security agencies in the ECOWAS sub-region and strengthen security along the international borders of member States. The suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.

  • Hunters Arrests Two Kidnappers Along Lokoja-Okene Road

    Hunters Arrests Two Kidnappers Along Lokoja-Okene Road

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Kogi state branch of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, (KSHGN), have arrested two kidnappers who have been terrorising motorists along Lokoja- Okene highway on Thursday morning.

    The kidnappers who were allegedly planning to commence operation in  their usual attacks on passangers along the Lokoja-Okene road, jam badluck as two of them were arrested by local hunters.

    It was gathered that the Kogi State branch Hunters Group of Nigeria state Commander, Bature Inusa, led the hunters to the hideout of the kidnappers following a tip off.

    Reliable sources disclosed that hunters who were on patrol at about 4.30 am apprehended their informant, one Dan Fulani, at Kabba junction, who also confessed after
    interrogation, that he has been given information to the kidnappers for their operations.

    According to the leader of the hunters, “when we interrogated this suspect he told us that they all live in Kabba Junction and that they kidnapped a woman who they collected the sum of five million naira as ransom before she was released.”

    “He further told us that only one hundred and twenty thousand naira was given to him by their leader who according to him travelled to Kaduna to purchase more arms.”

    He said “these kidnappers have been terrorising many communities along Lokoja-Okene road. They were nine in number. We caught one of them and one of their informants ,while the remaining ones were at large . We are chasing the rest. We have deployed more hunters to their hideouts.”

    “Hunters knows the nooks and crannies of that forest because we have been chasing animals there in the midnight even when we were children. These kidnappers cannot hide like the fast animals that we chase and kill in that forest. We shall rescue the victims alive”, he added.

    Inusa then appealed to the state government to provide the group with logistics such as patrol vehicles, office accommodation, communication gadgets and remuneration for members.

    A community leader in Crusher Village, Baba Sarkin Baka, while commending the hunters for the feat said hunters know the terrain in every community and possess native intelligence and traditional tools to accomplish their mission.

    Items recovered include, locally made 3 pistols, One AK-47, bullets and ten raps of weeds suspected to be cannabis.

    The  commander who said the suspects would soon be handed over to the police explained that his men were on the trail of the remaining kidnappers.

    As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Williams Aya, could not be reached for official comments.

  • Kidnappers reportedly demands N270m ransom for abducted ABU students

    Kidnappers reportedly demands N270m ransom for abducted ABU students

    The gunmen who kidnapped students of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday, November 15, have demanded a cumulative sum of N270 million as ransom.

    DailyTrust reports that a student of the university, Dickson Oko, who was able to escape being kidnapped, claimed that the kidnappers had reached out to the families of the kidnapped students and are demanding N30 million ransom on each.

    Oko, who sustained a gunshot wound during the attack, said 12 of them were on the bus but nine students were kidnapped. The students were on their way to the French Village in Lagos for their language immersion programme when the bus they were travelling in got attacked by gunmen who blocked both lanes of the Akilubu-Gidan Busa axis on the highway and opened fire on motorists.

    The driver of the bus, Mohammed Nurrudeen, who escaped unhurt, said they were trapped sometime around 3:10 pm at Busa, a few kilometres after Akilubu.

    “Immediately they came on the road, the armed men opened fire. They shot two of the students in the bus and we noticed that they had erected a roadblock behind us and another in front. There was another roadblock mounted on the other lane. So the only thing I could do was to stop.”

    Nurudeen said with gunshots directed at their bus and other vehicles ahead of them, he suggested to the students to brace up and run, adding

    “I opened the door and crawled into the grass. The gunshots were everywhere; the person on the passenger’s seat in front also came down even though he was shot. I crossed onto the other lane. I never knew I would survive because there were gunshots directed at me.”

    He said he saw the gunmen open fire at a Gulf car with people in it. He said the attack, which scared him, aided his decision to run.

    “I can’t say how many people were killed but what scared me was how they opened fire at the Gulf car even though it had stopped and there were people in it. But the bandits opened fire and kept shooting. That was when I decided that it was better they killed me while on the run than face a gruesome fate in the vehicle,” he added.

    Mohammed, however, explained that when he returned to the roadside, soldiers had arrived and engaged the bandits in a shootout, adding that he went to Katari Police Station to make a statement as soon as the situation calmed down.

    “While making the statement, one of my passengers, she had a baby, came and said that she couldn’t believe that I survived because they all thought I had been hit by bullets.

    She was trembling and told the police that when the soldiers came, the bandits formed two groups; one went with several kidnapped victims into the bush, while the other bandits stayed back to engage the security agents in an attempt to distract them.”

    According to Mohammed, two other students had been found, including the student on the passenger’s seat who sustained a gunshot wound, adding that “the woman confirmed that the bandits left with nine of the students while we took the three who escaped to the hospital and I came back to Kaduna with them on Monday.”

    A female relative of one of the kidnapped students told the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service that the kidnappers have reached out to the family demanding for N30 million per student. She pleaded with the kidnappers to have mercy and release the victims, saying they were only students.

  • Farmer shot by Kidnappers dies in kaduna

    Farmer shot by Kidnappers dies in kaduna

    …17 kidnapped person’s fate unknown 


    By Ujah Simon, kaduna


    Farmers in Uduwa village in Chikun Local government area of kaduna state, are living in palpable fear following the death of one of the four members who escaped Kidnappers with bullets injury, on Monday.
    Recalled that 17 persons were kidnapped in Uduwa village in Chikun local government Area of kaduna state on Saturday and four others escaped with degrees of bullet injuries while on their way to farm.
    The chief Imam of the Uduwa village lmam Hussaini who confirmed the death to our correspondent on Monday morning said the three other victims of bullet injuries are still on treatment.
    In an email massage sent to our reporter, lmam Hussaini stated that “PEACE BE UPON YOU MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR DECENDANTS MAY GOD BLESS YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS THE 4 PEOPLE THAT KIDANAP SHOT ONE IS DIE TODAY THE ONE THAT SHOT IN THE MOUTH”.

    Imam Hussaini had on Sunday said that all the 21 victims are Gbagy by tribe, from thesame family, adding that some are Muslims and some Christians.
    The chief lmam who confirmed the incident in a phone conversation told our correspondent in Kaduna on Sunday night said that the victims were both Muslims and Christian from one family.
    According to him, a combined army and police personnel have launched manhunt for the bandits, nothing has been held of the Kidnapped victims yet.
    Imam Hussaini confirmed that  the incident occurred in Uduwa village along Birnin Gwari highway on Saturday morning.
    However, the police Public Reations Officer of kaduna police Command, Mohammed Jalige, who was contacted earlier, is yet to respond till now

  • UPDATE: The 17 abducted victims are from one family

    UPDATE: The 17 abducted victims are from one family

    From Ujah Simon, Kaduna


    The 17 persons kidnapped and four injured victims in a Uduwa village in Chikun local government Area of kaduna state are all Gbagyi by tribe, the chief imam of Uduwa village, Imam Hussaini has confirmed.
    Imam Hussaini who confirmed the incident in a phone conversation told our correspondence in Kaduna on Sunday night said that the victims were both Muslims and Christian from one family.
    He also stated that all of the 21 Victoria including the four other persons who narrowly escaped with bullets injuries were going to their farm when Kidnappers struck. According to him, even thought a combined army and police personnel have launched manhunt for the bandits, nothing has been held of the Kidnapped victims yet.
    Imam Hussaini confirmed that  the incident occurred in Uduwa village along Birnin Gwari highway on Saturday morning.
    However, the police Public Relations Officer of kaduna police Command, Mohammed Jalige, who was contacted earlier, is yet to respond till now.

  • Army neutralises 17 bandits, rescued 2 kidnapped girls in Katsina

    Army neutralises 17 bandits, rescued 2 kidnapped girls in Katsina

    Troop of the Nigeria Army of the Operation Sahel Sanity Theatre have neutralised 17 bandits and rescued two teenage girls kidnapped in separate operations in Katsina State.

    According to a statement signed by Brig- Gen., Bernard Onyeuko, Acting Director of Defence Media Operation, Defence Headquarter Abuja, on Sunday, one soldier died in the battle with the bandits.

    Oyeuko stated that the gallant troops of combat team 1, operation Sahel Theatre with the support of Air Task Force advanced and captured one of the notorious armed bandit strongholds located in the deep forest popularly known as Dangote camp.

    “Initial resistance by the bandits was effectively subdued by the superior tactics and dexterity of the troops inflicted heavy casualty on the bandits.

    “At the end of the encounter, 17 bandits were neutralised in Jibia Local Government Area while several others were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds as evident by the trails of blood traces along their escape routes.

    “Equally, five AK-47 rifles, three Dane guns, two AK-47 rifle magazines, 152 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and seven motorcycles were captured from the fleeing bandits.

    “Regrettably, one brave officer and two gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while four other soldiers were wounded in action,’’ the army stated.

    The wounded soldiers are currently responding positively to treatment in a military medical facility.

    Meanwhile, the Army spokesman said that on the July 18, troops conducting patrol along Faskari to Sheme to Dandume Road in Katsina State, arrested five suspected bandits including one female.

    “One of the suspects, Bashir Usman, who claimed to be a policeman during apprehension could not substantiate his claim as he was found with one AK-47 rifle loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition in his possession while riding on a motorcycle.

    “Other items recovered from the suspect include one handset and N6,350 cash.

    “The suspect is presently undergoing preliminary interrogation.’’

    Similarly on July 17, following a tip-off Onyeuko said the troops have also succeeded in dislodging bandits who invaded Kuka Uku Village in Batsari Local Government who kidnapped a 16-year-old Miss Hadiza Sani.

    “The army promptly cordoned the area; the bandits abandoned the victim and fled,’’ Oyeuko stated.

    Still, on July 17, he said that troops deployed at ‘Forward Operation Base Bagega’ rescued another kidnapped 10-year-old girl, following an alarm by her mother.

    The girl was said to have been kidnapped by two bandits on a motorcycle while both mother and daughter were fetching firewood around Bagega – Tudurki forest.

    According to the Army Spokesman, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai had commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience.

    Buratai was quoted as urging the troops not to rest on their oars in the fight against criminalities in the country.

    He assured the people of the North-West zone of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding their lives and properties. (NAN)