Kidnapping in Nigeria ‘S3/E1’: Gunmen On Rampage, Abduct 18 In Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Two Others
At Worldtopnewsng.com, we ended season 2 of kidnapping in Nigeria with the invasion of Mbieri Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State by unknown gunmen where a police officer was abducted.
Highlights from our season 2 reports not limited to Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) members kidnapped in Kaduna; Ondo couple and their three children abducted in Kogi; Two Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) students in Ogun; gunmen kidnapped Edo Head of Service; Catholic priest and three others kidnapped in Kaduna among others.
Our season 3 of kidnapping in Nigeria begin with how Kidnappers on Thursday struck in Ogun, Rivers, Imo and Katsina states, abducting 12 people barely 24 hours after the new acting Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, vowed to battle banditry and other crimes.
Investigations revealed that between Wednesday night and Thursday, two persons were abducted in Ogun State, eight in Imo State, Rivers State, one; and one in Katsina State.
In Imo State, there was fear on Wednesday night after gunmen kidnapped the traditional ruler of Umueze Nguru in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Eze Charles Iroegbu.
It was gathered that the gunmen also kidnapped seven other people in his convoy, including five traditional chiefs and two palace guards.
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It was learnt that the monarch, who is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of All States Mass Transit and his cabinet chiefs, were kidnapped after attending a traditional wedding in Mbano.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that he could not confirm the abduction.
In Oyo State on Thursday, hunters and vigilantes told our correspondents that they had started combing forests for six people kidnapped in different parts of the state on Tuesday night.
The IGP, shortly after assuming office at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday, promised to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and secessionist agitations.
On Wednesday night in Ogun State, which has witnessed increased spate of kidnappings, a medical doctor and a nurse were kidnapped on the Abeokuta-Imeko road, where two fufu sellers were abducted two months ago.
The doctor, Oladunni Odetola, who is the head of state General Hospital, Imeko in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area and the nurse, identified as Mrs Bamgbose, were kidnapped barely 23 hours after two Chinese nationals, who were abducted a week ago at Oba, were freed.
It was reported that the medical personnel were abducted by gunmen while driving in a Toyota Camry (Muscle) marked KTU 584 FR, along Abeokuta-Imeko road.
It was learnt that the gunmen emerged from a bush at Olubo village and attacked the health workers.
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It was reported that the doctor’s car was left at the middle of the road, where it was discovered by the police.
It was further gathered that the police recovered from the car, the doctor’s Nigerian Medical Association’s identity card and a minute of the association’s meeting.
When contacted, the state Chairman of the NMA, Ogunlaja Oladayo, confirmed the kidnap. Oladayo said, “Yes, it is true. But we have allowed the security operatives to do their job. We don’t want anything to jeopardise the process.”
Also confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, “Police detectives are on the trail of the kidnappers.”
The NMA Chairman, Oladayo, in an interview with journalists on Thursday evening, expressed concern about increase in cases of abduction in the state.
Oladayo, who described the abduction of the doctor and the nurse as condemnable, urged all the stakeholders to join hands in the fight against insecurity.
The NMA chairman said, “It is condemnable. It is not something we should support. It is something all of us should rise up against including the media and the community because doctors are doing the humanitarian job for the community.”
When asked to assess the level of insecurity in the state, Oladayo said, “We are not satisfied. There are a lot of security breaches everywhere not just in Ogun State. It is all over our country.”
In Katsina State, a 55-year-old man, Aminu Abdulwahab, who was kidnapped a few days ago in the Danmusa Local Government Area, was killed after his abductors collected a ransom from his family.
Abdulwahab was said to be a younger brother of a top official of the Katsina Local Government Service Commission, Abdu Danmusa.
It was learnt that the kidnappers picked up Abdulwahab earlier in the week and demanded ransom to ensure his release.
When contacted on Thursday, the spokesman for the state police command, Gambo Isah, said he should be given time to clarify the incident from the Divisional Police Officer of Danmusa.
“Give me time to clarify from the Danmusa DPO,” he simply said.
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Also on Wednesday night, gunmen abducted the Chairman of the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Philemon Kingoli, along the Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt.
Kingoli was kidnapped at gunpoint while returning from a Peoples Democratic Party event in Okrika.
It was learnt that the gunmen intercepted him near the Woji bridge axis of Odili Road in Port Harcourt, fired some shots into the air to scare people and whisked him to an unknown destination
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the state Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said the state Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, had ordered a manhunt for the kidnappers to rescue the local government chairman.
“So all hands are on deck to ensure his early release. All the tactical units have been mobilised and we are hopeful that he would be rescued soon,” he stated.
Residents of Bende and Victoria streets, as well as Aggrey Road in Port Harcourt, are now living in fear after the cult killings which occurred about 9pm near a popular pub on Bende Street.
Some residents, who gave the names of the groups as Icelandos and Greenish, said they were outside when suddenly the sound of gunshots forced residents running in different directions.
“We were outside at a pub in Bende Street with friends when we heard gunshots from afar. We all ran into a room. Thereafter, we heard that they shot somebody and we saw the lifeless body on the ground,” a resident explained.
Similarly, a lady said, “As I was coming back from work. I heard gunshots from two different directions and then we ran for cover. After about five minutes, we came out, everywhere was quiet and some persons were still running. We were walking in groups.
“We heard that they shot somebody close to Baham Church on Aggrey Road. Then we heard another body was lying somewhere. But we didn’t bother to go close.”
When contacted, Omoni confirmed the cult clash, saying it was a battle of supremacy between two rival gangs, noting that a pistol was recovered when operatives went after the miscreants.
“I can confirm it. I think it has to do with this battle for supremacy between two notorious cult groups in the state. The other group came for an identified target and then shot sporadically.”
NOTE:
The reason for the caption “Kidnapping in Nigeria” is because kidnapping in Nigeria is now the norms as it’s very rare that won’t happen in any part of the country on a daily basis, we at worldtopnewsng.com will report the news as the event unfolds.
