Kidnappers shame security clampdown as kidnapping epidemic rises

Daredevil kidnappers have continued to unleash terror on citizens in different parts of the country in defiance of security arrangements put in place to tackle the issue of abduction for ransom, which has lately assumed the level of commercial transactions.

For instance, three riot police inspectors were kidnapped on Friday evening in the Ohoror community, off the East-West Road, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, while gunmen, on Saturday, kidnapped the Oyo State Chairman, of the Tipper, Lorry and Quarry Park Management System, Alhaji Akeem Akintola.

Similarly, on Saturday, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Prof Godwin Emezue, was abducted from a petrol station at Umuekwule, Amachara, a community in the Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.

This is as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Mr Philip Aivoji, who was abducted on Thursday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is still being held by his captors, who have reportedly asked for N200m ransom.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Akintola, popularly known as KUSO, was kidnapped from his residence in the Ajiboye area, Omi Apata, Ibadan.

The gunmen reportedly stormed Akintola’s residence in the early hours of Saturday and forcefully took him to an unknown destination.

Efforts by Sunday PUNCH to confirm the incident from the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, proved abortive.

Several calls put across to his mobile telephone were not taken, while text and WhatsApp messages sent to him were not replied to as of the time of going to press.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that three riot policemen attached to the Police Mobile Force 51, Oghara, were abducted in the Ohoror community Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The victims, who are inspectors, were members of a team deployed in the area on a security patrol operation.

It was also gathered that the suspected kidnappers also carted away the AK-47 service rifles of the police officers before marching them into the bush.

A senior security official told journalists in Warri on Friday night, “While they were at the nipping point, a young man simply identified as Moses Progress (22), from the Uwheru community, came to inform the team that he was dispossessed of his mobile phone and money by suspected Fulani herdsmen under a nearby bridge while performing rituals to the river goddess.”

Consequently, the leader of the patrol team detailed the three inspectors, armed with their AK-47 rifles, to follow the complainant to the scene.

It was gathered that while waiting for the return of the three inspectors, the remaining members of the team later saw the complainant on top of a speeding motorcycle without the cops.

The source added, “He was stopped to inquire about the three police officers who went with him. It was at that juncture that he told the team that when they got to the scene, they were attacked by six herdsmen and he managed to escape, while the policemen ran in different directions.

“When he told our men that he did not know the whereabouts of the police officers who went with him, there was no other option but to arrest him and the team called for backup.”

The Police Public Relations Officer for the command, DSP Bright Edafe, could not be reached for comments on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

However, a senior police officer at the command headquarters confirmed the incident, noting that frantic efforts were being made to rescue the officers from their abductors.

The Abia State Police Command confirmed the abduction of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of ABSU, Prof Emelue, in a statement on Saturday.

A statement by the command spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, said the incident happened around 9.30 pm on Friday.

Chinaka explained that Emezue was abducted from his vehicle and in the company of his wife around 7 pm on Friday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred while the DVC was buying petrol from a filling station in Umuekwu Amachara, near Umuahia.

The statement added, “The hoodlums confiscated his wife’s ATM card, dragged him into a Lexus SUV and drove away with him.

“The command is deploying resources and assets, including intelligence and technical aid, towards unravelling the crime and safely rescuing the victim from his captors.

“We urge Abia people to remain calm and continue their legitimate activities while maintaining vigilance and being security conscious.”

PDP on Aivoji

Meanwhile, the PDP has demanded the immediate release of its Lagos State chapter chairman, Mr Philip Aivoji, who was abducted on Thursday.