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Kidnappers kill driver, abduct journalist, others

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Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a Bayelsa State-based transporter’s driver and abducted the Guardian Newspaper’s correspondent in the state, Mr Julius Osahon, and other passengers.

The incident occurred on Sunday night at Evwreni community near Ughelli in Delta State.

The suspected kidnappers reportedly shot at the commercial bus conveying Osahon and other passengers,  killing an unnamed driver of Sunny Eru Motors instantly.

After capturing Osahon and other passengers, the gunmen  forcibly took them into a forest near Ughelli where they robbed them of money and other valuables before taking them to their den.

Some ladies, who were on board the ill-fated vehicle, were said to have been let off the hook while the men were held hostage and given the beating of their lives.

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One of the ladies, who was released by the kidnappers, came to Osahon’s residence in Yenagoa, the state capital, to confirm that the Guardian journalist was one of the victims of the abduction.

Our correspondent, who spoke with Osahon’s wife, Grace, was informed that the kidnappers had reached out to her.

Osahon’s wife said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N5m, warning that if the family failed to pay the ransom quickly, Osahon would be killed.

The Bayelsa State government, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba,  has expressed shock over the abduction of Osahon, saying that the government would collaborate with the relevant agencies to ensure the release of the victims.

A Warri-based lawyer, Mr. Lucky Egboyi, who narrowly escaped the kidnappers, told reporters in Warri that they ran into herdsmen on the road.

He said the bus driver was shot in the head, while the passengers abducted may have been up to 18.

Delta State police spokesman Bright Edafe confirmed the incident to The Nation yesterday.

THE NATION

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Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

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May 6, 2024

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Miss Faith Omodon

Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

Two suspects are in the custody of the Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance and death of a 200-level undergraduate of Delta State University of Science and Technology, Agbor, Miss Faith Omodon.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State had, on March 30, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter who was studying Business Administration at DELSU.

The father of the missing girl, Edward Omodon, had told our correspondent that his daughter was last seen on March 30, after she left home for the farm on a motorcycle. He said the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.

“We usually have the Iru National Conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing. She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorcycle, taking her breakfast in a flask with her,” he said.

However, our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the community’s vigilante group arrested and handed over two suspects in connection with the disappearance.

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Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the incident, on Sunday, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Saturday afternoon.

He said the two were arrested when the phone of the deceased was tracked and traced to the suspects.

Isioma added, “The police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Omodon rode to the farm on the day she went missing.

“One of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they had killed the girl while being interrogated at the Okpaihe Police Station before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Benin.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest had yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contacted men of the SCID. He had yet to do that as of the time of filing this report on Sunday evening.

Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

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NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves

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May 6, 2024

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NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Sunday said the air components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the North East and North Central killed many terrorists in airstrikes in Borno and Niger.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement.

Gabkwet said the air components had continued to obliterate terrorists and destroy their structures, equipment and mobility, thereby limiting their ability to attack ground troops and innocent Nigerians at will.

He said that in the North East, the air interdiction was on May 3 authorized and conducted over Chinene, a location tucked inside the Mandara Mountain.

He said terrorists had been observed to be emanating from various locations and assembling ostensibly for a meeting.

According to him, seven gun trucks were also observed parked under trees within the same location.

Gabkwet said the aircraft bombarded the assembly area and tree coverings and destroyed their weapons and mobility.

He said that the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed.

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He said similar airstrikes were conducted same day by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in a pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating at Allawa village, near Shiroro town in Niger.

The NAF spokesman said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.

He said the terrorists had, on May 1, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area and torched the Central Primary School.

“In the evening of the same day, another group of terrorists also arrived at the location, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro.

“Accordingly, to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, the air component scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.

“On arrival at the location, several terrorists were sighted and engaged effectively.

“Furthermore, following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location,” he said.

Gabkwet also said that the NAF carried out air strikes North of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.

He said through this action, the capabilities of oil thieves to continually sabotage and destroy oil pipelines were minimised.

 

NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves

(NAN)

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Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police

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May 6, 2024

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Abayomi Oladipo, Ondo commissioner of police (CP)

Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police

Akure —Police detectives have arrested five suspected kidnappers, who slept off after abducting a pastor’s wife and two other persons.

The suspects reportedly slept off after taking hard drugs. Vanguard gathered that the three victims escaped after their abductors slept off.

The suspects include Garuba Mumuni, 27; Yusuf Tale, 21; Kabiru Muhammed, 16, Shaibu Umar and Adamu Mohammed, 22.
Police source said the suspects were arrested by men of the Ofosu Division after the victims identified one of them.
According to the police, “A case of kidnapping was reported at Ofosu Division, that a pastor’s wife and a member were kidnapped in the church while the third victim was kidnapped while picking snails on the farm.

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“The victims, however, escaped from their assailants at different dates after they had taken hard drugs and slept off.
“Through intelligence, on May 1, 2024, five among the six kidnappers were arrested by men of Ofosu division and have been identified by the victims as part of the gang that abducted them.

The state Police Commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Oladipo added that one Adetokunbo Adesina, who claimed to have been hired to kill over 500 persons, was also arrested after his last victim paid him N110,000.

Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police

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