Crime

Breaking: Abducted CRIN Visitors Regain Freedom

By Web News 319

By Olaitan Oye – Adeitan

Report reaching us says the farmers abducted on Wednesday at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi -Ayunre, Ibadan, have been released.

A staff of the Institute told our correspondent about the release on Saturday. “We are happy to announce that those people abducted have been released. Glory be to God”.

It would be recalled that unknown gunmen kidnapped four visitors to the Institute on Wednesday.

According to the Acting Executive Director Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Doctor Rasheed Adedeji Adedeji, the victims were among visitors who had visited the Cocoa nursery section of the institute when the armed hoodlums suddenly came out from a nearby bush and kidnapped four of them.

Details of their release later.

Education

Kogi Govt. Confirms Abduction of Nine Students

By Web News 324

The Kogi State Government has confirmed the abduction of nine students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene.

This was as the State Governor, Usman Ododo assured the people of the state of the safe return of the abducted students.

The students, who were reading for their upcoming exams were abducted on Thursday night after bandits swooped on the university around 9 p.m.

The bandits reportedly came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls and began to shoot into the air to scare the students.

In a statement issued on Friday by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, it noted that immediately the report was received, the governor “activated the security architecture to track the kidnappers and ensure the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended.”

Fanwo stated that while “nine students have been reported missing,” security operatives and local hunters are working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.

The statement read, “The Kogi State Government received a very disturbing news at about 21.00 hrs, Thursday, 9th May, 2024 that the Confluence University of Science and Technology was invaded by kidnappers.

“Immediately the report was received, the Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo activated the security architecture to track the kidnappers and ensure the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended.

“Hundreds of local hunters who understand the terrain as well as the conventional security agents are currently combing the area to ensure safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped in the classrooms. So far, nine students have been reported missing.”

The statement added that the state government wishes “to assure students, parents and the entire people of Kogi State that the Government is on top of the situation and all the abducted students will be rescued alive.”

The state government commended the efforts of the security operatives and local hunters for their efforts. This was as Ododo directed that security agents be positioned around all tertiary institutions in the state.

“We wish to commend the local hunters and other security agents who rose stoutly to engage the kidnappers. Their gallantry and dedication ensured that the kidnappers did not have a field day which would have been more calamitous.

“The State Government will spare nothing in ensuring that all the students abducted are safely rescued and reunited with their families. We won’t submit to terror. We shall prevail,” the statement concluded.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Crime

Gunmen Abduct 8 Commuters, Kill Driver

By Web News 532

Gunmen have killed a commercial bus driver and abducted eight of his passengers in the Abonema/Degema/EmuohaEmuoha/Kalabari area of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

It was gathered that the killed driver, identified as Salvation Harry, who ferried his passengers from the Mile One park in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, was travelling to Buguma before he was ambushed in one of the bad spots.

It was gathered that the gunmen shot the driver dead in a commando-like fashion and immediately took all passengers into a forest on Saturday night, even as they fired shots into the air to ward off any threat and escaped unchallenged.

Our reporter later learnt that one of the kidnapped travellers was freed after parting with about N150,000, while others were still in captivity.

A driver plying the route, who did not want his name in print, lamented that despite a protest calling on relevant security agencies to rise to the occasion, the frequent attacks had now led to the death of one of them.

“We had protested on our Kalabari-Emuoha-Buguma road because of the series of kidnap incidents and the shooting of our drivers and passengers.

“Even the Commissioner of Police sent a representative. After then, there has been an increase in kidnapping attempts and incidents.

“But yesterday, the worst of it happened. They (miscreants) killed one of our drivers by name Salvation Harry, who is from Buguma. As I am talking to you now, he is in the Buguma mortuary. And the occupants of the vehicle are in the bush with the kidnappers.

The eyewitness said the presence of security personnel on the road had not solved the challenge in the area and accused the policemen of paying attention to people carrying illegally refined petroleum products.

 “Their concern is the number of illegally refined products they will carry. Otherwise we have not seen a situation whereby we have nine to ten security checkpoints on that road, yet they killed our driver last night and took the occupants of the vehicle” he said.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Subscribe to our Telegram channel

Crime

Ten Farmers In Captivity; Kidnappers Demand N100million Ransom

By Web News 490

Some unknown gunmen have reportedly abducted ten farmers  in Ayede Ogbese, Akure North council area of Ondo state.

A farmer identified as Femi Alawiye and nine of his workers were kidnapped at his farm.

It was gathered that the victims were abducted Saturday evening when the kidnappers lured them to the farm under false alarm that the farm was on fire.

According to a resident who did not want his name mentioned, “Alawiye was called on the phone that his farm was on fire and he quickly rushed down to the farm to see the level of the damages.

“As he got to the farm, the bandits appeared from their hidings and whisked them away.

 ” lt happened last Saturday he was called on the phone that his farm was on fire, he quickly called his workers and they rushed to the farm only to be ambushed by the bandits who have positioned themselves at the farm.

” They waited for them to get to the farm before they pounced on them. They were whisked away to an unknown destination. “

Speaking with newsmen, a family member of the kidnapped farmer said that the bandits had contacted the family and have demanding a sum of N100million ransom.

Spokesperson of the State police command,  Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the incident and said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims unhurt.

Odunlami said that five of the abductors have been released by their captors.

She added that” Our men are already in the bush in search of the victims and we are sure they would be rescued.

Bukola Bardi

Crime

Police Claim Responsibility As Gunmen Invade Imo Church, Abduct Okorocha’s Son-in-law Uche Nwosu

By Web News 734

The Imo state Police Command on Sunday confirmed that the former governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, is in their custody.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, made this known to newsmen in Owerri.

He said he wanted to make clarification based on the report that Nwosu was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. However, the detail for which Nwosu was arrested was yet to be given.

According to Police, “This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in the police custody.
“This is to refute the earlier news that has being making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons / gunmen. 

“The Commissioner of Police while using this medium to assure Imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of Life and prosperity this  yuletide seasons , advised the general public to always shun fake news.”

Adewumi Faniran /Vanguard

News

Little Girls Abducted In Akure

By Web News 569

Two little girls of nursery and kindergarten classes have been abducted in their parents’ car, an ash coloured muscle Camry at Leo area, Akure.

The incident occurred around 8pm on Friday night as their mother drove into their compound.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the case had already been reported at a police station near the area.

The development is said to be causing panic among residents of Leo Area.

Dupe Isename

News Security

Gunmen Kill Policeman In Ogun

By Web News 637

A policeman has been reportedly killed by gunmen during the abduction of four railway workers at Alaagba village in Odeda local government of Ogun state.

The abducted workers are said to be staff of the Chinese company handling the Lagos-Ibadan standard guage railway project.

The Baale of Alaagba village, a border village between Oyo and Ogun state, Chief Adekunle Olabamiji, confirmed the incident while speaking to newsmen on phone.

He said, the  gunmen killed the police escort while struggling to abduct the four Chinese workers.

A youth leader at Alaagba village, Mr. Azeez Adila also confirm the incident noting that the village youths made attempt to rescue the expatriates from the abductors which was not successful.

The Ogun state police command reaction on the incident is being awaited as at time of filing the report.

Wale Oluokun

Crime

Gunmen Abduct 45-Year-Old Man at Konko Village, Ibarapa

By Web News 577

A 45-year-old man, Femi Ola -Abraham, has been abducted by  some gunmen at Oke Arinsa bridge, Konko Village, in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State

According to a source, the incident  occurred at about 7:30am while the victim and two others were in the area on a journey from Ibadan.

Two other passengers in the vehicle identified as Olawunmi Michael, and Jeje Abiola escaped the attack.

The incident had been reported at Ayete police station while the officers  on duty were said to have moved to the scene of the crime .

The officers were able to recover the victims’ white Nissan vehicle with registration number LSD 338 XK .

The two escapees have been taken to a hospital in the town by the police, for medical evaluation and treatment.

Efforts to speak with the state police PPRO, DSP Adewale Osifeso, for confirmation of the story proved abortive, as his phone line could not be reached

Abisola Oluremi

Crime

Updated] Niger School Abduction: Ensure Immediate, Safe Return Of All Captives, Buhari Tells Security Agencies

By Web News 672

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday gave marching orders to security agencies to as a matter of urgency ensure the immediate and safe return of all those abducted by gunmen at the Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. President Buhari’s directive came when he received reports of the brazen attack on the school in which an unspecified number of staff and students were reportedly abducted.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja said, “Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure the immediate and safe return of all the captives.

“The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.” President Buhari assured of the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry and urged them to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future. “Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the President as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.

Vanguard

Crime

Ekiti Police Arrest Woman for Alleged Abduction of 3 Children

By Web News 580


Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a woman for allegedly abducting three children in Ado Ekiti.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Sunday Abutu affirmed that the woman was arrested after some residents around INEC Office, Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti raised an alarm that a strange woman, one Mrs Kazeem Tawa attempted to abduct three School Children.
According to him, upon the receipt of the information from the good samaritan, a team of joint patrol, comprising the Police, Army and other security agencies put in place by The Executive Governor of Ekiti State was dispatched to scene immediately and was able to rescue the children and apprehended the suspect.

The children while narrating their ordeal told the team that the woman pleaded with them to help her carry her bag containing some items to an unknown destination.
According to them, they refused initially but after a few moment of conversing with the woman, they became unconscious and started following the woman with her bag.
” It took the quick intervention of some mechanics around who noticed their suspicious movement to stop them. When asked about the children, she claimed that the children belong to her. But the scenario changed immediately when the children countered her that she was not their mother”.
During interrogation by the personnel of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the woman could not satisfactorily state her mission and reason for trying to lead the school children to an unknown destination.
Mr Abutu said Investigation was ongoing and as soon as it is completed, the suspect would be charged to Court.
Items recovered are: charm, soft drinks, oranges, drugs, adult/children slippers, fresh banana, maggi, garri, clothes, INEC jackets, and others.

Roundoff News