Crime

Police Arrest Couple for Faking Kidnap to Swindle UK Relatives

By Web News 402

The Police Command in Lagos State says it has arrested a couple (name withheld) over alleged self-kidnap for N5 million ransom.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Hundeyin said that the husband, a 53-year-old technician and wife, 48 years old body massager and bone setter, were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday respectively after a family member of the man reported the purported kidnapping.

He said the couple, who admitted to the crime, claimed they planned the self-kidnap with a view to raising N3 million to buy back their house in the Badagry area of Lagos.

“The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the police. He said he did it through text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to re-buy his house back with N3 million.

“The man claimed he decided to organise self-kidnap because none of his brothers and sisters doing well and some living abroad are willing to assist him financially.

“He claimed that if they hear of his kidnap with his wife, they would negotiate with the kidnappers and pay the money,” the spokesperson quoted the man as saying.

Hundeyin noted that the couple was still living in their house in Badagry when they sent out text messages of their kidnap to their relations, stressing that when police visited the house on Tuesday, they met the wife and three children.

He said the police requested the woman to follow them to the police headquarters, Ikeja, but the woman pleaded with them to allow her to come the next day Wednesday, which was granted.

The image maker said that the woman came to the station as promised and was arrested for self-kidnap, while the husband was arrested the following day Thursday.

“She admitted that she supported her husband in the crime. She also admitted that her husband discussed the matter with her and she gave her approval because they never thought it will turn out negative.

“The woman claimed if the plan worked out, it would have been the easiest way to raise the money to buy back their house since her husband’s brothers in the UK are not willing to help him,” he quoted the woman’s confession to the police.

Hundeyin pointed out that the woman claimed to service an average of three clients for either bone setting or stroke massaging at the cost of about N150,000 per person depending on the condition of the patient, wondering why she could not gather such money for the project.

He, however, said that the couple claimed they regretted their actions, appealing to their families and police for forgiveness.

The image maker said that the suspects advised members of the public to avoid crime and never be interested in family or other people’s wealth.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Yahoo Boys Kidnap Colleague over Proceeds of Fraud 

By Web News 676

Four suspected internet fraudsters popularly known as yahoo boys have been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for abducting their colleague over sharing of proceeds of fraud business. 

In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspects, Agbe Simeon ‘m’, Messiah Nicky ‘f’, Oladapo Dolapo ‘m’ and Yetunde Shonola ‘f’ were arrested at Orile Imo village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, following information received by the police at Owode Egba Divisional Headquarters, that one Haruna Usman, who had been abducted since Thursday, 22nd of December 2022, was being held hostage somewhere in Orile Imo. 

Mr Oyeyemi said upon the information, the DPO Owode Egba Division, CSP Popoola Olasunkanmi, quickly mobilized his men and stormed the area, where four of the abductors were apprehended while two others escaped. 

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspects belonged to an internet fraudster syndicate and that they recently swindled somebody whose identity was not yet known of the sum of twenty-six million, four hundred and thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and fifty naira (#26,437,950), but the victim only gave the sum of #2,200 to his other colleagues, claiming that the money had not been paid completely by their client. 

He explained that this infuriated his colleagues who then lured him to a herbalist home at Orile Imo and held him, hostage, there since Thursday, 22nd of December 2022, with the threat to kill him there if he refused to give them their complete share.

 The police spokesperson said information got to the police who moved in, rescued the victim and apprehended four of the abductors, while others escaped. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, cp Lanre Bankole, has directed that the suspects be transferred to anti-kidnapping unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution. 

Omolara Adasofunjo

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Crime

Teenager Kidnaps Self, Collects Ransom from Dad

By Web News 895

A 19-year-old boy in Adamawa State, Israel Emmanuel, has been arrested by the police for organizing his abduction and collecting N1 million ransom from his father.

It was gathered on Saturday that Emmanuel and three of his friends faked the abduction and communicated with his father to collect the ransom.

The Adamawa Police Command confirmed that it arrested Emmanuel who confessed to the self-kidnapping drama as well as two other accomplices: Fartaci Mustapha and Zakka Nuhu, both from Mubi North LGA.

A third accomplice, Abdullhamid Mohammed, is on the run from his friends and the police.Emmanuel, who is of Mararaba Mubi, met Zakka Nuhu at the Welcome to Mubi area of Mubi town, and left for Muvir in Mubi North LGA and hid himself in the house of Fartaci Mustapha for six days while they negotiated for ransom.

Fartaci Mustapha made the telephone calls to Israel’s father, telling him about the ‘abduction’ of his son.

After Fartaci introduced himself to Emmanuel as one of the kidnappers, he handed over the phone to Israel and they communicated.

Israel told the father that he had been abducted and ransom was required to get him out.

After six days in Muvir, Israel returned to Mubi and regrouped with his other accomplices and mounted pressure on his father until the father agreed to pay N1 million.

He detailed Fartaci and Abdulhamid to go to the bush in Mararaba Mubi and collect the ransom.

The two met with Emmanuel but it was Abdulhamid who took the money where it was kept for them.To the dismay of the rest in the kidnapping plot, Abdulhamid declared N500, 000 only as the amount the father paid as ransom for Israel’s release.

Israel returned home with N200,000 as his share of the N500,000 loot and Abdulhamid who knew how he had betrayed his friends by keeping half of the loot to himself, promptly dropped out of sight, long before the police got onto the matter.

The other suspects were arrested following a complaint to the Adamawa State Police Command by Israel’s father, who at the time did not know that it was his son who abducted himself.

Adamawa Police spokesman SP Suleimam Nguroje, confirmed the arrest, assuring that the suspects will be charged to court.

The Nation/Olaolu Fawole

Judiciary

Kidnap Kingpin, Evans Bags Life Imprisonment

By Web News 561

 The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans and two others, Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi handed out the sentence to the trio on Friday after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru.

The victim is the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

In convicting the trio, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

In reaching his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.

“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper,” Justice Oshodi said.

“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence.”

He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.

The court discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.

The Lagos State government had arraigned Evans alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, and Victor Aduba for allegedly kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017.

The state had claimed that the convicts committed the alleged offence between February 14 and April 12, 2017.

The prosecution had further told the court that the incident took place at about 7:45 pm, along Obokun Street, in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.

The prosecution told the court that on April 12, Evans alongside the other five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 euros from Donatus for his release.

The Lagos State government subsequently arraigned the defendants before the court in August 2017.

In all, the prosecution presented four witnesses, including the victim, Dunu while the defence presented six witnesses including Evans who testified in his own defence.

Evans is also facing similar charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the same court.

IntelRegion/Adedayo Adelowo

Crime

Gunmen Kidnap Teenager in Ogun

By Web News 674

Ogun State Police command has confirmed the kidnap by gunmen in Nigerian Army Camouflage of a thirteen year old boy in Obada-Odo Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to the Spokesman of the command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, operatives of the command had been deployed to the area to rescue the victim.
He confirmed that the gunmen had trailed the victim’s family to Destiny Estate Community in Obada-Oko.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim, Gbolahan Ajibola had been reached by the abductors demanding fifty million naira ransome.
The grandmother of the victim, Mrs. Victoria Felix told newsmen that the attackers were six in number and collected the bags and the phones of Gbolahan and his mother during the attack.

Wale Oluokun

Security

Ogun Will Rescue Kidnapped Students Unhurt – Gov. Abiodun

By Web News 614

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has directed security agencies to fish out perpetrators of kidnapping of two students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Aiyetoro Campus and ensure the victims come out unhurt.

Governor Abiodun gave the directive in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr Kunle Somorin.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, Governor Abiodun said his administration was working with security agencies and other relevant authorities to ensure safe return of the victims.

The Governor also urged security agencies to engage locals in intelligence gathering in order to know the hideout of the bandits within the towns, villages and in the forest, adding that security was a collective responsibility.

It would be recalled that two OOU students identified as Precious Adeyemo and Abiola Oyefule students of department of Forestry and Wildlife Management and Agricultural Economics respectively were abducted on Sunday when the attackers stormed Igbole Aibo Quarter area of Ayetoro, in Yewa North Local Government Area of State.

Bolanle Adesida

Crime

Oke-Odan Kidnap: Abductors Demand 100Million Ransom

By Web News 798

The family of 24-year-old Ayodeji Emmanuel, who was kidnapped on Monday, February 22, 2021, at Oke Odan, Olomo community, Apete in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been contacted by the abductors, with the demand for N100million as ransom, to secure the victim’s freedom.

Emmanuel was kidnapped while he was on his father’s farm, at about 5p.m by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

They had invaded the farm, armed with sophisticated weapons, and had shot sporadically, demanding for the farm owner.

In the absence of the owner, the abductors got hold of his son and took him to an unknown destination.

Farm workers and others present on the farm were said to have fled in different directions as shots were being fired by the kidnappers.

It was learnt that they used the victim’s phone to call his father at about 10pm, same Monday, to demand for the N100million.

However, it had been the only call, as they had yet to get back to the family, according to informed sources in the community.

It was learnt many landlords, residents, vigilante group members and security guards kept vigil at the scene of the incident.

When contacted, the police spokesman in the state, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the Command was working towards securing the freedom of the victim from his abductors.

Abisola Oluremi

Crime

Suspected Herdsmen Kidnap Farmer’s Son in Ibadan

By Web News 742

About four suspected kidnappers have invaded a poultry farm located at Oke Odan, Olomo area of Apete Community in Ibadan, Oyo State and kidnapped a. 24 – year -old son of the farm owner.

A witness said the abductors came to the farm yesterday evening with sophisticated guns, and started shooting, to instill fear in the workers and others in the farm premises.

The gunmen, who were identified as the Fulani’s who usually come to the farm to buy manure to make grasses to grow for their cows, requested to see  the farm owner .

Realising that the owner of the farm was unavailable, the gunmen pounced on his son who, and went off with him.

It was further gathered that when the case was reported,  the Divisional Police Officer and local vigilante men stormed the surroundings of Olomo community in search of the abductors and their victim but the efforts have not yielded

However ,the state police spokesman, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, could not be reached, as calls to his line were  unanswered as at the time of filing this report.

 Abisola Oluremi

Crime

Gunmen Kidnap 25 Youths in Taraba

By Web News 575

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Wednesday abducted twenty five Youths along Wukari_Takum road in Taraba state at 6pm.

relation of some of the victims, in Wukari and Takum LGAs said that the 25 Hausa Youths were on their way back to Takum from Wukari after a wedding ceremony when they ran into a roadblock mounted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

The victims who are all male were traveling in a commercial bus and were attacked at  a spot between Amadu and Chanchanji.

When contacted, Spokesperson of Taraba state Police Command, DSP David Misal confirmed the incident, adding that the victims are missing but not established either kidnapped or otherwise and an investigation is on.

FRCN Abuja

 

Crime

Breaking: Gunmen Kidnap Travellers In Osun

By Web News 681

A yet-to-be identified numbers of travellers have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Osun state.

The incident according to information gathered by CityMirror News occured along Omoh/Erin-Ijesha road in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun on Sunday night.

Report Says the travellers were waylaid on the road by gunmen and took some of them to nearby bush around Ori-Oke Omoh while others were left at the scene.

One of the victims who escaped from the Kidnappers den were to have reported the incident at the police station.

The Corps Commander of Amotekun outfit, Osun State, General Bashir Adewinbi confirmed that some travellers were abducted yesterday.

“We did not know the numbers of people that were kidnapped by gunmen but we have drafted people to the scene of the crime to secure there release.”

When the Police spokesperson, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, was contacted, she confirmed the abduction.

She said, “Two people were kidnapped on Sunday evening and our men have been deployed to the area to rescue them.”

A security source said, ‘The Commissioner of Police alerted the Amotekun corps about the kidnap. The police with the Amotekun corps have been mobilised to the scene. The area that they kidnapped those travellers has been giving security agents issues for a while now. There was a time that they shot Amotekun corps there. The numbers of those abducted by the gunmen are not known.”

Details later…

City Mirror

Crime

Kidnapped Petroleum Dealer Regains Freedom

By Web News 636

Report reaching us says, the abducted petroleum dealer in Ekiti State Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami has been released by his abductors after spending eight days in captivity.

Alhaji Akinbami was whisked away by unknown gunmen last week Sunday evening at his filling stations along the Federal Polytechnic Road Ado Ekiti, the State capital.

However, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sunday Abutu confirmed that the victim was left off the hook at about 2pm of Sunday around a remote area in Kogi State

He said details of his release would be made available later.

Amos Ogunrinde

Crime

Police Nab Siblings for Alleged Attempted Kidnap of Former Employer

By Web News 858

Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested two siblings and one other person for allegedly threatening and making an attempt to kidnap their former employer.

The suspects Oyeleke Blessing, David Oyeleke and Kabiru Oniyitan were arrested after the managing director of a private company in Ota, Makinde Oluwatoyin reported at Onipanu Police Divisional Headquarters that he had received a call from an unknown caller threatening to kidnap his son from school.

He said the suspects also threatened to wipe out his entire family if he failed to pay the sum of two million naira to a specific bank account within three days.

The spokesman of Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police Force, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi said in a statement that the suspects were arrested from their hideouts after intelligence and technical based investigation.

Mr Oyeyemi said the suspects had confessed to committing the crime together having worked in the man’s company before and know his financial capacity.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Edward Ajogun has ordered the transfer of the case to anti-kidnapping unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.

Olusegun Folarin

Crime

Ondo Monarch Shot Dead

By Web News 908

Unknown Gunmen have shot dead the Olufon of Ifon in Ose local government area of Ondo state, Oba Isreal Adeusi.
A source told Radio Nigeria that Oba Adeusi was shot dead while returning to his town after attending the Council of Obas’ monthly meeting in Akure, the state capital.
The First Class monarch was shot dead by the gunmen at Elegbeka, few kilometers to Ifon.
Reports had it that the monarch was hit by some of the bullets shot at his vehicle.
The source said that the kidnappers were operating generally on the Owo-Benin highway and the monarch unknowingly ran into them.
Radio Nigeria gathered that he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, where he joined his ancestors through gunshot injuries.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Mr Tee Leo lkoro confirmed the incident and explained that a high-level search team are combing the area to ensure that the perpetrators are caught and brought to book.

Leke Adegbite

Judiciary

DPP Exonerate Female Suspect in Kidnap Case

By Web News 682

Department of Public Prosecution in Oyo State has exonerated the only female among suspects alleged of kidnapping the twins of an

Ibadan based Islamic Preacher, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold.

The Suspect, Rafiu Modinat is facing trial alongside six others including her husband Rafiu Mutiu for their different roles played in kidnapping the twins and collection of ransom before their release.

When the suspects were arraigned in September the court did not take their plea because of legal advice that had not been released from the Department of Public Prosecution, and ordered that the suspects be kept in the custody of Special Anti Robbery Squard, SARS.

At the resumption of the case today, the Suspect were not brought to court due to what the Police prosecutor called administrative challenge, but told the court that legal advice on the case had been released DPP.

While checking the legal advice, the Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Idowu said the female should be released from detention once the legal advice exonerated her from the case.

Chief Magistrate Idowu adjourned the case till November 23rd 2020 for mention.

Radio Nigeria also learnt that the case had already been transferred to High Court as the Magistrate Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

Industrialist Kidnapped in Ekiti Regains Freedom

By Web News 586

An industrialist, Mr Jide Ijadere who was kidnapped on Tuesday at Ilupeju-Ijan Ekiti has regained freedom.

Mr Ijadare was kidnapped while working on his groundnut oil factory while one of his workers was killed.

Ekiti State Police Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Abutu confirmed Mr Ijadare’s release to newsmen in Ado Ekiti 

He explained that the victim was released after a serious pressure on his abductors by officers of the command.

Mr Abutu urged members of the public to always assist police with useful information that could check criminal activities.

Abductors of Mr Ijadare had earlier contacted his family and demanded for a ransom of twenty million naira.

Kayode

Lifestyle

IPC decries kidnap of FRCN Female Reporter

By Web News 947

Press Release

The International Press has expressed dismay over the kidnap of Chinenye Iwuoha a female presenter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s, (FRCN) Pacesetter FM, Umuahia, Abia State.

Mrs. Iwuoha was kidnapped by gunmen near the popular Amakanma Estate in the Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state around 7pm on Monday according to a report by The Punch Newspapers dated May 6, 2020.

It was also gathered that the gunmen shot at the driver of the vehicle conveying the general manager and the other employees before abducting Iwuoha and making away with their valuables.

The gunmen who had since made contact with the station are demanding N20m as ransom for the release of the presenter.

In a statement, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, IPC condemned the kidnap of the female journalist noting that the pattern of using journalists as bargaining chips by kidnappers is unacceptable.

“The rising dangers faced by journalists is leading to greater levels of concern and immediate action needs to be taken to guarantee their safety and hold accountable those who endanger them” he said.

He called on the commissioner of Police of the state to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of the journalist and ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

Stella Nwofia

Program Manager

Tel: 234-(0)8020359629, 08063810424

Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Crime

Army Officer Kidnapped in Zaria

By Web News 1848

A young officer of the Nigerian Army identified as Lieutenant Falana has just been kidnapped.

He was seized in Zaria on Tuesday morning opposite Ahmadu Bello University by some suspected daredevil gunmen.

They overpowered him from his car after they overtook him while driving.

The hoodlums hurriedly put him at the back seat and drove away with the car.

The car is a tinted Toyota Corolla and white in colour.

Following the distress call all soldiers and security agents have been directed to watch out for the car along Zaria-Katsina, Zaria-Kaduna, Zaria-Jos, Zaria-Birnin Gwari and Zaria- Kaduna Express roads.

Festus Alenkhe