Metro

Travellers Panic As Kidnappers ‘Take Charge’ Of Ogun Federal Highways

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2022

Travellers, as well as residents of Ogun State have expressed worries over the rate at which kidnappers waylay drivers and take into custody, helpless road users along the major highways in the State.

It was gathered that federal roads like Lagos-Ibadan highway, Lagos-Abeokuta expressway and Lafenwa-Ayetoro-Imeko road are becoming dreadful to road users.

Kidnapping has become more or less a lucrative business in Nigeria as some individuals abduct people in exchange for ransom. In Ogun State, millions of Naira has been paid in ransom to kidnappers, whose stock-in-trade is to pick up unsuspecting travellers in exchange for ransom.

Unfortunately, these abductors are no respecter of any person as they have on different occasions taken policemen and other security agents into their hideouts.

Severally, foreign nationals working on farms and construction sites were captured and released after the payment of ransom. Some security men were killed while trying to prevent the abduction of those they were meant to look after.

Some unknown gunmen in August killed an officer of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Sofolahan Olanrewaju. It was learnt that the kidnappers had stormed a bar located at Soyoye, Abeokuta North Local Government to kidnap a woman. In the process, the kidnappers shot and killed the So-Safe security guard, who was trying to call for reinforcement.

Lately, it appears the kidnappers are becoming resistant to all the strategies put in place by the police and other security agents in the State as they now operate in broad daylight on busy roads within the State.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that these daring gunmen usually appear in military or police uniforms to deceive their targets. As drivers stop to attend to the supposed security men on duty, they become victims of kidnapping.

Recently, three policemen were dragged into the bush along the Wasinmi road, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State. Many could not believe the fact that such an operation could be carried out on the busy Lagos-Abeokuta highway, just few kilometres to the State capital, Abeokuta. The officers, from Zone 2 in Onikan area of Lagos State, were in Ogun State to carry out an investigation.

While being driven by a commercial driver, they were accosted by men in military camouflage, who had presented themselves as security agents on stop-and-search duties. Three persons were eventually taken away by the gunmen, who kept them into custody for over 48 hours.

While he was commenting on the incident, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State police spokesman, maintained that only one policemen was among the three victims, who he said have now been set free. He is yet to announce the arrest of any of those behind the incident.

DAILY POST reports that the Wasinmi broad daylight abduction has sent shivers down the spines of many who are regular users of the road linking the Ogun State capital with Lagos, Ota and other parts of Ogun West.

“I never thought kidnappers could have that effrontery to attack anybody on that Wasinmi axis of the highway, especially in the afternoon. I know there were cases of kidnapping in Ewekoro Local Government. Obada used to be their main target, but it seems the police and the State government have tightened the noose and we have not heard of such incidents lately.

“I also remember that some kidnappers broke into a Celestial church along that axis few months ago to kidnap the Assistant Pastor and one other; but all these happened at night and not on the main road. Now I’m scared of that road. I do ply the road day and night. The Federal Government should help us,” an Abeokuta resident, Ade Julius, told our correspondent.

Also, a commercial driver, who identified himself as Kareem Olayeni, expressed concerns over the possibility of being kidnapped, saying he would spend months in the kidnappers’ den for there is no one to raise any ransom for his release.

“I’am afraid. We can’t stop driving because we don’t have any other job. This is what we do to earn a living, and this Wasinmi, Itori, Papa, Ifo is our route. The report that people on transit were kidnapped is getting us worried.

“As I am, if they kidnap me today, I’ll just be with the kidnappers for many months because I don’t have any means of raising any amount for ransom. This car is on hire purchase. I only pray the police and other security agents rise to the situation,” he stated.

While road users were contemplating leaving the Wasinmi road for the Lagos-Ibadan route, they were struck with another incident around the popular Kara long bridge, near Lagos.

A commercial car enroute Lagos from Ilorin in Kwara State was ambushed by some gunmen and one Alhaji Sheu Anafi was dragged away.

But, policemen in Ogun State stormed the hideout of the suspected kidnappers, where they rescued the victim and arrested one of the suspects.

Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed on Sunday that kidnappers had been terrorizing the Kara bridge in recent times. This is coming a few weeks after he denied reports that 20 persons were abducted in that area. https://dailypost.ng/2022/08/09/ogun-police-debunk-alleged-abduction-of-20-persons-at-kara-bridge/

In a statement over the weekend, Oyeyemi disclosed that the hideout of the kidnapers was invaded to rescue the said Alhaji Sheu Anafi.

Men of the Warewa police division had been told by a commercial driver that while coming from Ilorin in his Ford commercial car marked LRN 596 ZY, loaded with seven passengers, he was attacked by some kidnappers.

According to Oyeyemi, the driver had told the police that when he got to the Long Bridge end of the Lagos-Ibadan highway, there was a gridlock which necessitated him to manouver through an untarred access road beside the bridge.

While driving through the untarred road, the driver said they were attacked by those he called “unknown gunmen.”

Upon the attack, all the passengers were said to have fled into different directions in the nearby bush.

After a while, the passengers reportedly regrouped for their journey, but it was discovered that Anafi, a resident of Okeleele area of Ilorin, had been abducted by the hoodlums.

Upon the report, the DPO of Warewa division, AbdulFatai Ogunsanya, had led a joint operation consisting men of the command’s tactical teams and other local security agents to comb the bush in search of the abducted man.

According to Oyeyemi, the kidnappers’ hideout was located and the security operatives engaged them in a gun battle.

“At the end of the encounter, one of the kidnappers, Ibraheem Abubakar who claimed to have come from Sabonganmu-Bompai road, Kano State, was arrested while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, and the victim, 62 years old Sheu Anafi was rescued unhurt.”

The police spokesman disclosed that the suspect had confessed being a member of a seven-man gang terrorizing the stretch of the long bridge lately.

Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole has ordered the immediate transfer of the arrested suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.

Bankole also appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals to report to the police if anybody with gunshot injuries is sighted.

Reacting, a resident of Ogun State, Ogbu Ambrose called on leaders of the South West region to rise up and tackle insecurity headon, saying terrorists have claimed responsibility for the attack on a police station in Ondo State.

“ISWAP has claimed the attack at Ondo police station and you should know the implication for the entire region. Leaders should rise to the situation,” he said.

A civil servant, who did not want to be mentioned, said the increase in kidnapping came after the #EndSARS protest, blaming the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the dismantling of many police check points.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State police command has reiterated that Ogun will never be a place of hibernation for kidnappers and other criminals, stressing that they will be flushed out anywhere they are.

The Command called on the general public to assist the police with credible intelligence, while warning against the payment of ransom to kidnappers.

In his efforts to rid the State of crime, Governor Dapo Abiodun had also vowed to arrest kidnappers and make them face the law.

“Let me state in clear terms that no part in Ogun State is a safe haven for criminals and criminality in whatever form. Whether on the Lagos-Ibadan, Sagamu-Benin-Ore, Abeokuta-Sango-Lagos expressways or even our township roads or interstate roads, we shall smoke them out. We shall arrest them and hand them over to face justice,” Abiodun stressed while reacting to an incident of kidnapping.

Metro

Man Jumps Into Lagoon, Dies After Being Chased By Mob For Alleged Stealing

Published

10 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

A man identified simply as Azeez has been confirmed dead after reportedly jumping into Lagos lagoon while being chased by a mob for allegedly stealing bags of cement.

The Director in charge of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said he arrived at the scene of the incident to see the lifeless body of the deceased who drowned.

His corpse has now been evacuated and deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary in Yaba.

A statement released by the police read:
“SITUATION REPORT

SUICIDE/DROWNING

ON 26/04/2024 AT ABOUT 1220HRS THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF LASEMA OPERATION IN LAGOS CENTRAL REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 1045HRS OF DATE, HE RECEIVED A CALL THAT THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AT LEKKI/IKOYI LINK BRIDGE. ON GETTING THERE HE MET A LARGE CROWD GATHERED BY THE WATER SIDE, WATCHING THE LIFELESS BODY OF A MAN WHO HAD DROWNED, WHO WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS AZEEZ ‘M’. HE WAS LATER CONFIRMED DEAD BY PARAMEDICS OF PRE HOSPITAL CARE LAGOS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE ELIJAH AMOS ‘M’ WAS PURSUING THE DECEASED BEFORE THE DECEASED JUMPED INTO LAGOON, BECAUSE HE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE STOLEN SOME BAGS OF CEMENTS. THE SCENE WAS VISITED WHILE THE CORPSE HAS BEEN EVACUATED AND DEPOSITED AT MAINLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL MORTUARY YABA, FOR AUTOPSY AND PRESERVATION. INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.”

Metro

How I Formed Kidnap Gang During My 11yrs In Prison- Suspected Kidnapper

Published

11 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

The goals of Correctional centres, otherwise known as Prison , are to strike a balance between punishment, rehabilitation and public safety while preparing inmates for a productive life after release.

However, in Nigeria , these goals have suffered severe set back as most inmates rather than being transformed into a better version of themselves, return back to the society hardened than they were before going to jail.

This was the case of a suspected leader of a kidnap gang arrested by the Rivers State Police Command under the watch of CP Olatunji Disu.

The suspect, Gift Ogbo (39), who is receiving treatment in the hospital, from injuries sustained during a botched kidnap operation , disclosed that he formed his gang while serving his 11 years jail term for a murder case.

Ogbo, who said he had never been to a classroom since birth, recalled how he roamed his village in Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, during school hours, searching for opportunities to pilfer.

Due to his alleged villainous disposition, he was nick named ‘Akwa Ndele’, with parts of his body designed with bold scars .

Arrest

Vanguard gathered that on March 29, 2024, Ogbo, led three members of his gang on a kidnap mission, in their operational tricycle, on Nkpolu road.

They reportedly intercepted a white Mercedes-Benz ML 350 4matic , parked on the road, with two occupants in the driver and passenger seats.

But in an act of bravery, driver of the Mercedes who attempted to reverse and escape, hit a wall.

He reportedly drove menacingly towards two suspected members of the gang that stood in front of the car ,and ran over them.

The two suspects were

Ogbo and another member identified simply as Oyi-Baba, who were the gang’s muscle men. They were abandoned at the scene by their fleeing colleagues.

A mob was said to have descended on them and was at the verge of setting them ablaze when a Rapid Response Team that was contacted arrived the scene.

While Oyi-Baba reportedly died in the hospital, Ogbo , is still undergoing treatment, according to Police sources.

Prison gang

From the hospital bed, Ogbo, said, “ In 2012, I attacked one of my uncles during an argument over a parcel of land and he died in the process.

“I was arrested and charged for murder. While serving my 11 years hail term, I made friends with some inmates.

“Upon my release in December 2023, I returned to Ndele and rallied two old friends, Gift Kpanuku, aka Oyi-Baba and one Sunny, aka Onye-meme.

”We teamed up with two released members of the gang I formed in prison: Isaac and Ugo and immediately devised a plan to start a kidnap-for-ransom gang.

“We stole from residents of Ndele to raise money for arms. We raised 370,000 and used it to purchase two locally made shot guns in Akwa-Ibom from Smart, a gunrunner I also met in prison.

Operations

“We went on the first mission on March 13, 2024, at about 8.45 p.m. We snatched a red Mazda 323 from a local taxi driver to use as operational vehicle. On that same evening, we met a man and his wife who parked their car in front of a doctor’s office at Nkpolu. We ordered them out of their Volkswagen Touareg, pushed them into the back seat of the car and drove off with them, abandoning the stolen Mazda.

“But on the way to our hideout, there was traffic .While contemplating an alternative route, the woman jumped out of the car. In anger, I shot her husband in both thighs, and we sped off.

“We took him to a compound in Eleme, took his gold chain, gold wristwatch , his phone and wife’s phone which she left . We used his ATM card to withdraw N530, 000, via.”
VANGUARD

Metro

Court Stops Rivers Govt From Withholding LG Allocations

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Editor

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, stopped the Rivers State Government from withholding financial allocations of the 42 Local Government areas in the state, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it.

The court, in a ruling Friday, ordered the local government Chairmen in the state and nine others, who had filed the suit to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the matter.

The ruling followed an ex-parte application in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, argued by Mr. Aliyu Hussein, counsel to the plaintiffs.

Cited as plaintiffs in the matter are: Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman, Emohua Local Government, Hon Alwell Ihunda, Chairman, Port Harcourt Local Government, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, Ikwerre Local Government Area; Barrister George Ariolu, Chairman, Obio-Akpor Local Government; Dr Obbinna Anyawu, Chairman, Etchi Local Government Area; and Hon Chidorom Nwaiwu, Chairman, Omuma Local Government Area.

Others include Dr Hope Ikiriko, Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area; Barrister Benjamin Isreal Eke, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government; and Dr Roland Sekibo, Chairman of Akuku-Toru LGA.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, stopped the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Police Commissioner in Rivers, Director General, State Security Service, SSS and its Director, who were cited as defendants in the matter, from withdrawing the security personnel of the LG Chairmen, pending the final resolution of their motion on notice.

Justice Omotosho held that the Rivers State Government should not frustrate or prevent the LG Chairmen from discharging their duties and rendering services to their respective councils till the determination of the suit.

The plaintiffs approached the court, praying for an order of interim injunction to restrain the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Rivers State Government, Attorney General of Rivers and Commissioner for Finance, from withholding the revenue accrued to them.

They also sought an order from the court to restrain the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, the SSS, its Director, and the AGF, from withdrawing the security personnel attached to them.

They equally prayed the court to prohibit the defendants from preventing the enforcement or implementation of the newly amended Rivers State Local Government Law N:5 of 2024 pending the determination of the motion.

In a 33-paragraph affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman of Emohua Local Government, the Chairmen claimed to have been duly elected in a democratically conducted election for a term of three years under the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government Law.

They asserted that they are autonomous and constitutionally recognised as one of the tiers of the government, adding that the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Rivers State Amended Law to guide their affairs and activities.

They claimed that the Rivers State Government, AG and Finance Commissioner, who are not happy with the amended law, have approached the IGP, CP, DG SSS and Director SSS, seeking the withdrawal of policing and other security services from them to frustrate the implementation of the amended law.

The Chairmen alleged that the Police Commissioner in the state, who has the responsibility to advise the IGP on the policing and security needs of Rivers State, is under substantial control of the Rivers State Government and would implement the directive of the state government.

They held that it would be impossible for them to carry out their respective functions and duties without the policing and security services of the IGP.

They prayed the court to restrain the defendants, especially the Rivers State Government, from taking the law into their hands.

In his ruling, Justice Omotoso ordered all parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

The judge warned that no party should take any step that would make the motion on notice nugatory.

“The plaintiffs are hereby ordered to serve the motion on notice seeking an interlocutory injunction on the defendants to enable them to have the opportunity to respond to the same.

“That this matter is adjourned to the 2nd day of May 2024 for the hearing of the motion on notice,” the court held.

PUNCH