Metro

‘They Broke My Jaw; I Drank Garri For 10 Days’ – Edo Rev. Fr. Nightmare In Kidnappers’ Den

Published

3 months ago

March 22, 2025

Photo: file copy

Reverend Father Thomas Oyode, the Reactor, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, has narrated his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers.

INFO DAILY reports that Rev. Fr. Oyode was abducted in the evening of October 27, 2024 at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Agenebode.

Narrating his ordeal in an interview, Rev. Fr. Oyode, said it was around 7pm on the faithful day when three young men who looked like Fulani herders stormed the seminary, shot sporadically into the air and the process kidnapped him and two seminarians but he pleaded for their captors to free the seminarians, which they obliged to.

He narrated: “They announced their presence with gunshots, but I didn’t realise we were in danger at the time. It was around 7.00pm. We usually have the vigilante come to resume night duties at 8.00pm, and he would usually shoot a shot up, perhaps to announce his presence.

“When I heard the first gunshot where I was seated, I thought he was the one. Then there was a second one and I thought to myself, “why is he wasting the bullets?”.

“It was at that very moment I heard feet stamping towards me. I raised my head and saw three young men looking like Fulani, brandishing a cutlass, a stick and a gun respectively. I was terrified and started screaming “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Mother Mary, Help Me! Ikenemoh, where are you?”. This made them hit me harder, as they would later tell me when they took me to the bush.

“As they hit me with every instrument they held, I fell to the ground, and it appears I passed out because I later found myself almost lifeless on another spot far from where they began hitting me and I didn’t know how I got to that spot. I felt one of them trying to lift me up, saying “oya come make we dey go”.

“I tried to open my eyes then I discovered that my left eye was already covered, I couldn’t see with it. It was swollen. The right eye was covered with blood. I could barely see but I managed to see two of my Seminarians being held hostage; one looked like he was explaining something or pleading to be freed. He was gripped by the collar of his uniform.

“It was then that I realised that we were not just being attacked by some angry herdsmen, we were going to be kidnapped.

“So, I managed to stand on my knees, lifted my hands and pleaded with them, “Okay, make una leave these ones, I go follow una. I’m a priest, abeg I go follow una” and they said “Oya get up make we dey go.” They tied my hands and took me away.

“At this point I noticed that the number of the attackers increased. There were now about ten of them. Later I discovered that they were actually nine in all. That was how they took me away.”

According to the priest, he spent 10 days in the kidnappers’ den, but he couldn’t eat anything apart from water and in some occasions garri in the water.

He added: “It was actually ten days, though I got home (my diocese) on the eleventh day, having passed the night in a village in Ajaokuta local government, Kogi State.

*I ate nothing that Sunday before the evening of the kidnap. I said three Masses in the morning at 5.30 am, 6.30am and 8.30am. From the Parish I proceeded to the seminary around 12.00 noon where I presided over a meeting between 1.00pm and 4.00pm when I went into my room for a nap.

“I was hungry and thirsty when they came. So, when we walked a short distance, my throat became very parched. I asked for water but they told me that I couldn’t drink anything then “because of your condition”. I guess they were referring to the bleeding. Later in the night, they gave me water from a muddy river, but I rejected it. I thought they had potable water (pure water sachet) for me.

“The next morning, they offered me cornflakes which they called garri but I couldn’t eat it. It was then I noticed that tears dropped from my eyes. They had broken my left jaw, and I could not open my mouth to chew even as my left eye had become swollen and closed up arising from the broken jaw.

“I realised that I was going to suffer a lot for as long as I was going to be alive in the forest. So I didn’t eat. I only drank water and sometimes, I asked them to add garri to the water for me to drink. That was what I fed on for ten days.”

The Rev. Fr. Who said he prayed with “my fingers even the Divine Mercy prayer at 3.00pm every day,” further narrated his ordeal: “On one of the nights when they had my hands tied to the back and tortured me, the one they called Gambo kept shouting at me to keep quiet as I was crying and begging. He told me “keep quiet now or I’ll shoot you”.

“As I pleaded the more with my hands already numb, he asked me, “If I release you now and tell you make you dey go, make you become Muslim, you go do?” For split seconds I considered the option and I immediately realised they would never release me after all. So, I asked, “me?”. He answered, “yes” and then I said “I be Reverend Father o”. He said “I know na” and then I said “no, I no go do”. He kept silent and never said anything again.”

On how he was miraculously released, the priest said: “I kept hoping I would be released. I kept praying even when there were instances when I felt they were planning to kill me, I could only pray for mercy and beg God to grant me the grace to join the Blessed Virgin Mary and my favourite saints in heaven.

“My release was a mix of surprise and hope because there were times when it felt like it was never going to happen, like no matter what, they would kill me and abandon me in the bush anyway. I walked with them barefooted to Kogi State, near Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

“That was where they released me, where my people came to pick me on a motorcycle.”

Metro

Lamentation As Night Fire Destroys Goods In Rivers Market

Published

14 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

Goods and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed following a fire which destroyed goods and property at the popular ‘Rumuomasi Morning Market’ in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday night.

Already, most of the victims are counting their losses while a few struggled to salvage what they could lay their hands on.

Some of those affected told The PUNCH that the fire started between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday following a spark immediately after power was restored.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the scene of the fire on Tuesday night reports that scores of traders were seen crestfallen while some cried openly as they watched their goods go up in flames helplessly.

Federal and Rivers State firefighters as well as those from oil firms who were handy did great to battle the fire but had difficulty in accessing the main point of the inferno, though they later put it out eventually.

Also, policemen kept vigil at the scene of the fire to ensure that miscreants didn’t take advantage to loot goods and other items.

One of the affected traders and former Chairman of the Rumuomasi Morning Market, Mr Anthony Chikere, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday afternoon said he was at home when he received several telephone calls about the incident.

Chikere, who deals in wholesale materials, including laces, said he lost goods of over N100m to the fire and appealed to the state government to assist the victims.

He stated, “We closed yesterday (Tuesday) and left here (the market) some minutes past 6 pm to 7 pm. Not up to an hour after we got home, we were called that there was a fire incident.

“So, before we got here, the fire had destroyed many places. They said it happened when power was restored. My shop and those of a lady selling weavon were the major victims on this line because we lost everything.

“I sell big laces, Damat, Senator materials, satin materials. There is no type of bale material you won’t find here. We even have machines for urgent sewings.”

On the estimate of what he lost, he said, “If I didn’t lose anything, I have lost N180m in this shop because we have not even opened three bales we brought in within the week. They all got burnt.

“We are calling on the government to come and assist us because things are so rough now. Maybe, the government can help us financially and otherwise. We will appreciate it.’

Another victim, a widow and mother of four, Mrs Nkiru Olisemeka, who trades in foodstuffs, wondered how she would cater for her children who are in the university.

“I trade on foodstuffs, rice, beans, oil, tomatoes, anything foodstuffs, she said in an emotion-laden voice, even as she corroborated the first speaker that she was at home when several calls trickled in.”

She added, “So, I called my first daughter to ask what was happening. She said nothing that I should calm down. I live along Stadium Road, so getting to the market, the fire was much.

“Even before my children got there, they said the fire was much and that all the goods had burned into ashes. I’m a widow with four children in the university. Next month will be two years since I lost my husband.

“This is what I use to survive and sponsor them. All my goods, everything, was burnt down,” she tearfully said.

She put the value of what she lost at about N50m, including cash.

“I was supposed to pay somebody N500, 000 but the person did not meet up before I closed and left. So, I said when I came today (Wednesday), I would give the man the N500,000. Now, what do I do,” she asked rhetorically.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Grange-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation was ongoing.

“An investigation is ongoing to ascertain what happened. I can tell you that the Divisional Police Officer and his men were on the ground yesterday and the fire was put out.”

Metro

Troops Kill Notorious Terrorist Leader Auta, 14 Others In Zamfara

Published

15 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

Troops of the Mobile Strike Team under Operation Fasan Yamma have killed a notorious terrorist kingpin known as Auta and at least 14 of his associates during a decisive offensive in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation, which took place on 10 June 2025 around Ƙunchin Kalgo town, led to the death of Auta, alongside his close aides Abdul Jamilu and Salisu.

A statement released on Thursday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye said Auta and his fighters had long been responsible for a string of violent attacks and terror activities in the region.

He described their elimination as a “critical disruption of terrorist networks.”

Kangye said, “Troops of the Mobile Strike Team under Operation FASAN YAMMA successfully killed a group of terrorists during a decisive offensive operation around Ƙunchin Kalgo town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on 10 June 2025.

“Among those killed was a notorious terrorist known as AUTA, alongside his associates Abdul Jamilu and Salisu. These terrorists were linked to multiple acts of violence and terrorism within the general area. The operation marks a significant blow to criminal elements, destabilising peace and security in the area.

“Preliminary intelligence indicates that two additional terrorist kingpins, including one identified as Babayé, were eliminated during the operation. ”

In a related incident, Kangye said troops neutralised Sale Ado Madele, also known as Sarki, the eldest son of the notorious bandit leader Ado Alieru.

He said Sarki’s death is expected to significantly weaken the Alieru criminal faction, which has been behind multiple abductions and killings in Zamfara and neighbouring states.

“In a separate incident, Sale Ado Madele (alias Sarki), the eldest son of known bandit leader Ado Alieru, was also reportedly killed, ” he added.

Furthermore, in a separate engagement, troops tracked and killed ten armed terrorists near a filling station in Danjibga.

Kangye said intelligence sources say the group was allegedly mobilised by another bandit commander, Dogo Sule, for a planned attack.

“The troops also killed an additional 10 terrorists who congregated near a filling station in Danjibga. The terrorists were believed to be part of a syndicate brought together by Dogo Sule for a planned attack.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces remain committed to safeguarding lives and restoring lasting peace across Zamfara State and the wider North-West region. This operation underscores our resolve to dismantle terrorist networks and bring perpetrators of violence to justice, “he said.
PUNCH

Metro

June 12 Protest: Security Operatives Barricade N’Assembly Gate

Published

1 day ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

Security operatives on Thursday morning barricaded the main gate of the National Assembly complex in Abuja to prevent protesters from accessing the venue.

The protest, organised by the Take It Back Movement and several civil society groups, is part of nationwide demonstrations marking June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Organisers had said the protest is aimed at spotlighting what they describe as “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The organisers had moved the protest to the national assembly, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to address a joint session of the National Assembly as part of the Democracy Day celebrations.

Speaking on the eve of the protest, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the decision to converge at the National Assembly did not change the focus of the protest.

“That we earlier said the protest would hold at Eagle Square doesn’t foreclose the fact that Nigerians cannot organise themselves at the National Assembly to protest the two years of misrule under Tinubu.

“The unprecedented hardship and insecurity we have experienced under his government are alarming. So Nigerians will be turning out nationwide to protest against this, and the National Assembly is one of those spaces Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights. We are encouraging Nigerians to move there in their numbers tomorrow,”he said.

Getting to the venue, our correspondent observed a heavy presence of security personnel, including operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and armed police officers, stationed at the National Assembly gate.

The entrance was also reinforced with iron barricades as well as a long truck, preventing access to the premises.

As at the time of filing this report, the atmosphere remained tense.