In spite of the recent promises made by President Bola Tinubu to stamp out kidnappings and other violent crimes and the deployments of security operatives to affected parts of the country, abductions of citizens are still being reported, specifically in the Federal Capital Territory, which has come under siege in the last couple of weeks.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday met with his service chiefs over the abduction of a family of six sisters and the public outcry that followed the killing of one of the sisters.
Barely a week after the abductions were first reported in the news, gunmen have again abducted one Abdullahi Sabo, a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who was driving home with his wife on Friday at Sabon-Lugbe community, Airport Road in the FCT.
Information gathered showed that the abductors intercepted the victim’s vehicle, a Ash coloured Lexus Jeep with registration number ABC 769 TP.
It was gathered that he had left the city centre and was heading home when the attackers inside an unmarked Golf car opened fire and deflated the tyres of the jeep.
The incident is coming less than 48 hours after gunmen invaded Army Estate in Kurudu, still in Abuja, and abducted some residents.
Also, at town hall meetings in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils, FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, had assured residents of their safety, saying adequate security measures had been put in place. He also announced the arrest of some bandits and their informants.
One of the victim’s neighbours, Daramola Joseph, who confirmed Sabo’s abduction said the gunmen shot the tyres, forcing the vehicle to stop, but before they could get close to the jeep, the man’s wife had escaped.
“However, they went away with the husband. The man and his wife were returning from the city centre and heading towards the access road to Jedo Estate when the gunmen struck,” he said.
The FCT PPRO, SP Josephine Adeh, as at the time of filing this report, did not pick up calls placed to her nor reply to messages sent to her.
Kidnappers Abduct 2 From Abuja Army Housing Scheme
Earlier, kidnappers on Thursday night abducted two persons from the Nigerian Army Post-Service Housing Estate in Kurudu, Abuja.
They abducted the wife of a lawyer, Barrister Cyril Adikwu, and her brother.
It was gathered that the kidnappers entered the massive estate through a bush path behind the estate.
A resident of the estate said there was prompt deployment of security personnel to the area on Thursday night.
The source said the kidnappers exploited a part of the estate that was not fenced to gain entrance.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to demolish all abandoned buildings harbouring criminals in the territory to keep the territory safe.
Wike who made this known in a town-hall meeting on security challenges in Gwagwalada area council of Abuja noted that some of the abandoned buildings would be taken away from the owners who abandoned them and given to others who would build.
The minister who addressed the gathering in pidgin English, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed him to visit the six area councils and resolve the lingering insecurity challenges in the territory.
Wike, while promising to provide security agencies in FCT with vehicles and other tools to work with, stated that the residents should also play their part by providing information because security was a collective responsibility.
“But we need to do our part. Security alone cannot do the work. Give them (security agencies) information to prevent and fight insecurity in the FCT,” he said.
Speaking against payment of ransoms to kidnappers, the minister stated that the practice would only encourage the criminals to do more. He urged the residents not to give more money to criminals.
Police Arrest 16 Kidnappers Terrorising Bwari, FCT Environs, Recover Weapons
Following the recent launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun towards fortifying the security landscape in the FCT, and through collaborative efforts with the Department of Force Intelligence – Intelligence Response Team (DFI-IRT), the FCT Command’s Anti-Violent Crimes Section, Anti-kidnapping Section and other state commands and the Nigeria Police Force has successfully apprehended 16 suspected kidnappers terrorising Bwari and the FCT.
This is even as the police recovered a significant arsenal of arms and ammunition including a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG).
Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said amongst the suspects paraded on Saturday were three Bwari-based kidnappers – Idris Ishaku, Bala Umar, and Dahiru Salisu, all 27 years, who have been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari local government area and other parts of the FCT.
Similarly, the combined team of operatives have arrested 13 suspects for various other crimes.
Amongst the achievements recorded is the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the above-named Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them.
The Force PRO also said in a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedes Benz 230 car, Police operatives in an intelligence-propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of N500,000.00 was transferred from his account.
The suspects however ran out of luck as they were intercepted by Police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one by the name, Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested; the victim rescued unhurt and the said Hilux Van recovered.
The Police said it was discovered that Chinaza and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences, at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.
Also, operatives of the DFI-IRT intercepted one Everest Magaji, a gunrunner, during negotiation with some notorious bandits who are currently at large, for the purchase and supply of illicit firearms and ammunition.
Eleven Pistols, and two Pump Action Guns were recovered from the suspect.
The Force PRO said the achievements recorded through these relentless operations demonstrate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the country becomes a safe haven for all to inhabit.
He said the IGP urged all citizens to be very observant of their environs and the people in it, and report any suspicious activity immediately to the police.
Kidnappers Demand ₦30m For Victims Abducted From Nigerian Army Estate In Abuja
Kidnappers, who abducted two people from a Nigerian Army Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have demanded a ₦30 million ransom for the release of victims.
LEADERSHIP reports that the incident occurred on Thursday night around 10 pm when the kidnappers targeted the residence of Cyril Adikwu in the Nigerian Army Estate in Kurudu, Abuja.
Adikwu, who managed to escape during the invasion, revealed that the kidnappers communicated with him, demanding the hefty ransom within a specified time frame, BusinessDay reported on Saturday.
“It all happened on Thursday night at about 10:00 pm when a vehicle containing those who were kidnapped drove into my compound, and then all of a sudden the kidnappers followed the vehicle into my compound,” said Adikwu.
“There were about eight of them, and they walked through the bush path over the hill to the other side. I was called to provide a ransom, I don’t want to mention the amount because already false information is everywhere in the media about the whole incident, but I can assure you it’s more than 30 million.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the kidnap incident in Abuja is not an isolated occurrence. Bandits, last week, kidnapped no fewer than 10 persons in the Dutse-Alhaji area of the FCT, Abuja, after gunmen reportedly dressed as military men, invaded the community.
The kidnappers, dressed like herders, were said to have invaded the estate in the evening around 7:30 pm.
That incident comes days after a young lady identified as Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar was killed by gunmen who had abducted her and five other sisters in the FCT.
Travelers Abducted On Akure-Ikere Road
In Ondo State, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olufunmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the kidnappings of several travelers who were attacked between Ikere-Ekiti and Iju in Ondo State.
She said the command could not confirm the number of people involved but that men from the anti-kidnapping section of the command swung into action soon after the report and have since been combing the forest.
She, however, noted that there has been no official report from the family or families of the owners of the two vehicles, and there was no report of missing people in the state. Mrs Odunlami assured that the police would soon unravel what took place and rescue the victims if it was a case of abduction.
Step Up Vigilance, Be Alert To Halt Kidnappings – CAS Tells Personnel
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has charged Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel in Abuja and other units across the country to maintain a high level of vigilance and alertness to tame the scourge of kidnapping and other threats.
He gave the order at the Nigerian Air Force’s Base Socio-Cultural Activities (BASA) in Abuja on Saturday.
Abubakar also promised that the Air Force would collaborate with other security agencies to curb terrorism and banditry, among others, in the country.
He stated that the security situation facing the country requires synergy and unity of purpose among security agencies.
“I must remind us of the security challenges that we currently face as a nation and the imperative for us to constantly remain and maintain high levels of vigilance and alertness.
“On our part as a service, we shall continue to synergise with sister security services and other security agencies in our resolve to eliminate all forms of criminality in the country. Let me, therefore, seize this opportunity to commend the entire officers, the airmen, and the airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force for their commitment and sacrifice,” he stated.
He appreciated the president for catering for their welfare and operational needs.
“I also want to sincerely thank President Bola Tinubu for his unrelenting commitment to addressing the welfare and operational needs of the Nigerian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Abubakar said.
BASA is an annual event held by all Nigerian Air Force units to celebrate the end of year’s activities and showcase Nigeria’s diverse culture.
Police Arrest 3 Suspected Kidnappers In Enugu, Recover Weapons
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have also arrested three persons over their alleged involvement in criminal activities, including kidnapping.
A statement from the spokesman of the police in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, said the operatives acted on credible information provided by the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).
He said that the operatives serving in Enugu Area Command raided a criminal hideout in the Centenary City area of Obeagu-Awkunanaw community in Enugu South local government area on Friday resulting in the arrest.
