Gunmen Kidnap Cleric, Son, Sibling; Demand N100m

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2022

Editor

Gunmen, again, struck at Oko-Olowo, a suburb of Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Saturday and kidnapped three persons.

Meantime, relations of the victims are already begging Kwara state government to intervene.

The fresh victims are a young cleric, Alfa Sofiu Amolegbe, his son, Aliyu, and his sibling, Fansasi.

The trio were abducted at their private residence in Oko-Olowo along Ilorin- Jebba expressway in Moro Local Government area of Kwara state.

It was reliably gathered that the suspected kidnappers removed the burglary of a window in the building through which they gained access into the room and abducted the trio at gun point.

Vanguard further gathered that a bold nattempt by Fasansi to escape was meant with stiff resistance from the kidnappers who reportedly rained bullets on him and also matcheted him.

Confirming the incident,the father of the victims, Imam Amolegbe of Dada, Okelele area, Ilorin who spoke with journalists said that the kidnappers later abandoned Fasansi thinking he was dead.

Imam Amolegbe also said that the victim is now recuperating at a private hospital in Ilorin.

The Cleric further said that the kidnappers have contacted the family demanding for N100m ransom.

”The kidnappers have contacted us and they are asking for N100m ransom. We have begged them to accept N10m from us, even though we don’t have the money.

”I am appealing to the state government and men of goodwill to assist us in getting my two sons and grandson out of the den of the kidnappers,” the cleric said in a shaky voice.

Since the news of the sad event broke out on Saturday, sympathisers have been thronging the Dada ancestral home of the victims to commiserate with their father who is a popular cleric in the area.

Some of the cleric’s associates have also been holding special prayers that could aid the safe return of the victims.

Contacted, the spokesman of Kwara State Police Command, Okasanmi Ajayi also confirmed the abduction of the victims,adding that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter.

“The Command is already investigating the matter. Effort is also at an advanced stage to get the victims rescued. Meanwhile, two suspects already arrested, please,” he added.

Chaos In Court As Ex-convict Attempts To Escape

Published

1 hour ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

A dramatic scene unfolded on Tuesday in an Ilorin Area Court as an ex-convict, Segun Samuel, attempted to escape from the court premises, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Samuel Mayowa, who witnessed the incident, told NAN that the ex-convict cunningly removed the chains from his leg with a broomstick, walked towards the restroom and scaled the court fence.

“He has four different criminal cases in this court. One of the cases was heard on Monday, and he was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

“In the second criminal case, he was sentenced to six months of community service, and the third case was supposed to be heard today, before he pulled that stunt,” he said.

Luckily, he said, the police officers in the court premises and the prison warder swung into action and pursued him.

He said that after a thorough search, and with the help of the community, the ex-convict was found in a dilapidated building at Oke-Suna Area, Ilorin.

The Correctional Service officer, he said, was called, and the ex-convict was captured and returned to custody

Metro

One Dead As Police Foil Kidnap Attempt In Kogi

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The Police Command in Kogi has confirmed the death of one passenger in a foiled attempt to abduct passengers along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road in the state.

A statement on Tuesday in Lokoja by SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the command’s spokesman, said the feat was part of a series of bold operations carried out in the command.

Ovye-Aya said that on June 23, the Obajana Division operatives foiled the attempted abduction of passengers along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road.

“The police patrol team responded promptly to sporadic gunfire and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, forcing them to flee.

“All passengers were successfully rescued, but six sustained injuries, and one later died while receiving treatment,” he said.

He further stated that the command, in a separate incident, arrested two suspects in Ayingba for possession of firearms and recovered several exhibits on June 21.

He said the two arrested suspects were found in possession of a locally made pistol, live cartridges, and suspected Indian hemp.

Again, he disclosed that on June 22, operatives of the Okene Division intercepted a Nissan vehicle with five passengers heading towards Auchi.

He said that during a search, one passenger escaped, leaving behind a bag containing a submachine gun (SMG) rifle, live ammunition, and other exhibits.

The spokesman listed the recovered items as “1 SMG rifle with breach number 5197, 1 magazine, 28 live rounds of 5.6 mm, 1 live G3 round, a locally made pistol, 2 live cartridges and other items.”

Ovye-Aya quoted the commissioner of police, Miller Dantawaye, as reassuring citizens of the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.

(NAN)

Metro

Ten Feared, Others Injured In Oyo Road Accident

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

No fewer than 10 people were feared dead in a road accident that occurred at Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday.

According to Vanguard, the accident involved three articulated trucks and a commercial Micra car.

One of the eyewitnesses said one truck lost control and rammed into other vehicles, leading to commotion in the area.

Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were sighted at the Challenge area of Ibadan moving some of the victims to the hospital.

A man, Aderogba Daniel, told Vanguard that the affected vehicles were coming from the Iwo road end when one of the trucks lost control and veered off the road.

As of the time of filing this report, the driver of the Micra car was still trapped under the truck.

“In a bid to help the victims, some passersby made desperate efforts to get them out. Some people were using cutlasses to cut the Micra car to rescue the driver who was motionless.

“Not quite long, some officials of the FRSC got to the scene, helping the injured to the hospital,” said Mr Aderogba.

One of the FRSC officials promised to speak on the accident later.

“From the way I saw the victims, I doubt if the casualty figure could be less than 10,” he said.