Crime

Abia CP, govt officials uncover schools, tunnel utilised for kidnapping

Published

4 months ago

January 23, 2024

Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has lauded Governor Alex Otti for his support to security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality witnessed in parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police said this at the weekend when he led a team of “Operation Crush” men and some Abia State government officials to two schools taken over by kidnappers in Lekwesi community, Umunneochi LGA.
During the Umunneochi visit, a tunnel suspectedly used by kidnappers to ferry victims into the bush, was discovered.

He said the schools visited have been dilapidated for a long time, adding that reconstruction of the schools would make it difficult for criminals to make use of them as dens.

CP Onwuemelie further said that the entire area is vast and the culverts seen in the bushy areas could be used to hide victims.

“Because, if you are not aware that those culverts are there and you are passing by, you just pass on on top. There is a possibility that any structure that provides cover can be used to hide kidnapped victims including the culverts but we must also tell you that in the past seven months, the challenge of kidnapping has been tackled very well in Abia State,” he said.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Commander Macdonald Uba (Rtd) who was part of the team, alleged that roads around the schools were not built by previous administrations, pointing out that kidnappers took advantage of the situation to use the places as their den.

He said the Abia State Government would do the road and reactivate the schools but urged the host villages to always provide timely information to the state government and security operatives.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said information from security agencies revealed that the tunnel served as a place where victims of kidnappings were dropped off, after ransom payment.

Contributing, the Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Ndubuisi Ike, said kidnapping in the area has significantly reduced.
Mr Ike, who said that the kidnappers vandalised the two schools and wanted to dominate the area, appreciated Governor Otti and security agencies for their efforts.

Some members of Lekwesi community including, Stephen Udeogu, Mr. Njoku Augustine and Anthony Akuma said upon the invasion of the Lekwesi secondary school by kidnappers, students were moved to Lekwesi primary school, where the kidnappers equally chased the pupils out and occupied the schools and started using the buildings as kidnap den.

Related Topics:Abia Abia CP govt officials

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Crime

JUST IN: Bandits kill three, kidnap 120 villagers in Zamfara community

Published

6 hours ago

May 16, 2024

NewsDirect

No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed and over 120 others abducted as notorious bandits attacked Goran Namaye community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to a resident in the area, who gave his name as Abubakar Muhammad, the terrorists invaded the town at about 1:17 am on Thursday, operating from house to house.

He further stated that the kidnapped persons were mainly women and men, adding that the terrorists also killed three people during their operation.

“The whereabouts of many members of the community could not be traced, and it is very clear that we lost three of our men to the tragic operation,” he added.

Speaking further, Muhammad pointed out that the bandits came in large numbers, on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons, and surrounded the community as the people were running helter-skelter to save their lives.

“They took us unaware as the whole people were running helter-skelter without direction, and they started house-to-house operations and chased our people, mainly women, into the forest.”

As of the time of filing this report, the security agencies in the state have not made any official statement regarding the incident.

Crime

Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibadan

Published

22 hours ago

May 16, 2024

NewsDirect

Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibada. The Police in Ibadan on Wednesday arraigned one Sulaiman Ikudaisi, 37, who allegedly tampered with a corpse.

Ikudaisi, whose address was not provided, is charged with tampering with corpse but he pleaded not guilty before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp Toyin Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 11 at 3.00 p.m. at Muslim Cemetery, Ibadan.

Ibrahim alleged that the defendant removed some bones from the corpse, in contravention of Section 242(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Kausarat Ayofe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 16 for hearing.

Crime

Spare parts dealer reveals threats to life

Published

22 hours ago

May 16, 2024

NewsDirect

The Leader Igbo Association of Spare Part Dealer Association at Ladipo Market, Jiakpo Solomon Akachukwu, has said his life and that of his family has been under constant threat for a reason yet to be known to him.

He explained that he has received several calls and messages of which he has been warned to leave Lagos State and relocate to the village. He added that some of his properties including his car windscreen and other household items were damaged by those threatening his life.

According to him, my wife and little baby who is under 2years cannot go out without security. So I took this step to inform the authorities concerned that I was told to leave the market and the state if I love my life.

Jiakpo however appealed to the security agency, to please come to his aid, as his life and that of his family are no longer safe.