metro
Train attack: Terrorists contact hostages’ families
•Sober mood at bank over MD’s abduction •They use buses to take away victims, says survivor •Amaechi: we need N8b to replace four coaches •Two-kilometre rail tracks destroyed •Helicopters, drones to shadow trains •Governors: violent attacks threaten our capacity •Katsina commissioner loses finger •El-Rufai: we are at war
The terrorists who attacked a Kaduna-bound train and abducted unspecified number of passengers on Monday, have contacted their families.
They are yet to demand ransom, the families said yesterday.
No fewer than eight people, including Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General Musa Ozigi-Lawal, TUC Kwara State chapter Chairman Akin Akinsola, National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) director at Kaduna office, Abdul Isa Kofar-Mata and a dentist Dr Chinelo Nwandowere killed by the gunmen. About 41 others were injured.
A member of one of the families told our correspondent that the abductors informed them that their family members and many other passengers were safe.
The family member, who pleaded not to be named for security reasons, said the bandits made a telephone call on Tuesday night.
”They told us our sister and other missing passengers were with them in their camps and that she was safe. They didn’t say more than that before ending the call.
”We are scared. We are just praying for God’s intervention and her safety. We are pleading with the kidnappers to release her for us,” he said.
A journalist, whose mother and sister were kidnapped, said the bandits also contacted his brother.
He said his mother and sister arrived in Nigeria from Saudi Arabia and boarded the train to Kaduna.
”My mum and sister were on the train and are among those not accounted for.
”The bandits have contacted my brother but didn’t ask for ransom yet. They have told us that my mum and sister are with them in the forest.
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”Please, join in prayer for their safe return. We are praying fervently that nothing bad will happen to them and others in their custody,” the journalist said.
Staff members of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), whose Managing Director Alwan Hassan is still missing, were in a sober mood at the headquarters in Kaduna.
Some of the survivors yesterday accounted their encounter with the terrorists in interview with our correspondent.
The Federal Government said it was working on measures to ensure there are no further attacks on trains, including recruiting villagers to secure the tracks and deploying aircraft and drones.
The police have acquired five additional high-powered unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, in a statement by the Acting Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police (CSP), said the equipment was part of a policy to integrate the use of innovative technology in law enforcement duties.
”The drones will assist the [olice in monitoring active crime scenes, coordinating response operations, and providing aerial support to responding officers.
”The UAVs include an ALTI Transition, capable of covering up to 150km in a single flight with high endurance of up to 14 hours, and an Elistair Orion fixed-wing aircraft, capable of covering up to 92m altitude with high endurance of up to 50 hours and other sensitive and forensic-based features,” he said.
A police source said most of the drones will be deployed to monitor the Kaduna/Abuja rail track.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said there were plans to work with the Department of State Services (DSS) to employ villagers to man the rail tracks.
He thinks Monday’s attack succeeded because the Airforce could not deploy aircraft to accompany the train due to poor weather.
Amaechi said the Airforce had promised to resume escorting the train when operations resume, pending the installation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution.
He spoke in Kaduna during a visit to the victims.
Amaechi said the damage caused by the attack would require significant expenses to repair. He put the cost at N8billion.
He said: “The level of damage supersedes the request we made for the purchase of equipment that will help install security, especially as it pertains to surveillance.
”We are going to repair the track, between one and a half to two kilometres and that is huge. We are going to replace the locomotives. About one or two of the coaches were damaged. We are going to buy some coaches.
THE NATION
metro
How I formed kidnap gang while in prison – kidnapper
How I formed kidnap gang while in prison – kidnapper
One Gift Ogbo, a suspected kidnapper, has disclosed that his kidnap gang was formed during his eleven years in Nigeria’s prison.
Ogbo, 39, who hails from Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of the State, was arrested by the police in Rivers state during a botched kidnap operation.
He is currently in a hospital receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the kidnap operation on March 29, 2024.
Ogbo said he had never acquired a formal education since birth, adding that from a very tender age he always roamed his village during school hours looking for what to steal
According to Vanguard, 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.
The driver of the Mercedes was said to have hit a wall while attempting to reverse and escape.
He reportedly drove menacingly towards two suspected members of the gang that stood in front of the car and ran over them.
After seeing that Ogbo and another member of the gang identified simply as Oyi-Baba have been run over by the driver and rendered incapacitated by the incident, their colleagues abandoned them and fled the scene.
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A mob was said to have pounced on them and was at the brink 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.
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.
“ 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
How I formed kidnap gang while in prison – kidnapper
metro
Landmines kill 5 JTF members, others wounded on Borno highway
Landmines kill 5 JTF members, others wounded on Borno highway
At least five civilian JTF members have been killed and unspecified others sustained varying degrees of injury when they stepped on landmines along the Maiduguri/Gomboru Ngala highway in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, sources said.
It was learnt that the incident occurred around Gajibo village about 12:30pm on Saturday.
According to a security source who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday, no fewer than five persons lost their lives when they stepped on landmines planted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
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“There were devastating landmines this afternoon around Gajibo community in Dikwa Local Government Area, killing at least five CJTF members and others seriously injured,” the security source said.
A top CJTF commander in Maiduguri confirmed the attacked to our correspondent, adding they were on patrol when they mistakenly stepped on explosives near Gajibo village on Saturday afternoon.
He said they lost some members, but the details were not yet available at press time.
The Nigerian Army is yet to issue any statement on the incident.
Landmines kill 5 JTF members, others wounded on Borno highway
metro
Why I broke down in tears – Saudi Arabia maid impregnated by boss narrates ordeal
Why I broke down in tears – Saudi Arabia maid impregnated by boss narrates ordeal
A Kenyan lady, Faith Wambui, who worked as a maid in Saudi Arabia, has come forward to share her traumatic ordeal of being impregnated by her Saudi Arabian boss.
Speaking exclusively to Tuko, the lady revealed the agonizing challenges she faced, including deprivation of food, sleep, and exploitation.
According to the lady, she embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia with the assistance of her elder sister.
However, what awaited her there was far from the envisioned prospects. From the outset, she faced hostility from her employer, who harbored a deep-seated dislike towards her.
Despite the unbearable conditions, she found herself trapped between the harsh reality of her situation and the pressing needs of her family back home, compelling her to endure the hardships imposed upon her.
“He won’t give me enough food. Sometimes, I would go for three days without eating. I also did not used to get enough sleep. I really wanted to quit, but when I remembered the problems back home, I decided to endure the hardships in the house,” she said in a part
Adding to her torment, the lady revealed the treacherous actions of her boss’s brother, who cunningly manipulated her vulnerabilities.
He resorted to deceitful tactics, including hiding food from her and exploiting her desperation by offering monetary assistance.
“He would bring me some rice and soda. Sometimes, he would give me money, which I would later ask him to send to my family as my first three-month salary was going to my agent.” she added.
The lady sadly revealed that she was forced to have an affair with him, which led to her becoming pregnant.
Why I broke down in tears – Saudi Arabia maid impregnated by boss narrates ordeal
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