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Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband

Published

3 months ago

January 30, 2024

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan

Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband

Kidnappers of Kaduna-based ophthalmologist, Ganiya Olawale-Popoola; her husband, Nurudeen Popola, and their guest, AbdulMugniy Folaranmi, are demanding a N100m ransom for their release from captivity, one month after the abduction.

Despite family efforts to negotiate a reduction, the abductors remain firm on the N100m demand.

The incident occurred on December 27, 2023, when gunmen allegedly broke into the ophthalmologist’s residence at the National Eye Centre Quarters in Kaduna, kidnapping the doctor, her Air Force officer husband, and their 16-year-old guest.

The kidnappers contacted the family on the fourth day, demanding the specified ransom for the victims’ release.

The kidnappers allegedly threatened to kill the couple if the N100m was not paid before January 18.

The family source disclosed that the kidnappers reached out to the family on Friday insisting that they would kill the victims if the ransom was not paid.

The source said, “The kidnappers reached out to us on Friday. Anytime they reached out, they asked one of the victims who understood Hausa and English to speak with us. They insisted that they were not going back on the N100m ransom.

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“We have pleaded with them to even consider collecting N20m which the family was able to raise but they refused. Everyone in the family is in a state of confusion as to what could be done.”

The source further stated that when the family reached out to the Air Force and police authorities, they were told that they were working to secure their release without getting the victims hurt while appealing to the necessary authorities to help secure the release of their family.

“We have reached out to the police and the Air force but what they kept telling us was that they were working to get them released from their abductors. They (the police and Air Force) told us that they had been careful not to get the victims injured while rescuing them.

“We are appealing as a family to the Nigerian government to help us secure the release of our family members. It has been over a month since they were abducted and we are exhausted as a family. There is no way we can raise the N100m ransom the kidnappers are demanding,” the source said.

When contacted on Monday, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the command was making efforts to get the abductees released without casualties.

“There are lots of kidnapping cases that we recorded in recent times. We have been able to rescue some of the victims and arrest some of the kidnappers. The police are not relenting in making sure that all the abducted victims are rescued from their abductors but we want to make sure there is no casualty while we are rescuing them,” Hassan disclosed.

Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband

metro

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

Published

3 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Ambrose Alli University

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

Fear gripped residents as two students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, a government-owned institution in Edo state, fell victim to a tragic incident of cult violence.

Among them was a member of the university’s Students’ Union Government (SUG). The SUG official, a 400-level student in the Faculty of Agriculture, met his demise on Poultry Road Extension in Ekpoma.

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This unfortunate event came shortly after another incident where an individual named Eddy was fatally assaulted for allegedly using fake bank alerts during a transaction. Regrettably, this incident was mistakenly interpreted as an attack by rival cult factions. Consequently, a cycle of violence ensued, resulting in the deaths of the two undergraduates.

Confirming the grim reality of the cult-related killings, Edo’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed that arrests have been made in connection to the incident, with investigations underway.

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

metro

Lagos cleric, 45, docked for raping 22-year-old lady

Published

4 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

A 45-year-old cleric, Mr Sunday Adewoye, was docked for allegedly raping a 22-year-old lady before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State on Tuesday.

Adewoye, whose address was not provided, is charged with unlawful sexual penetration and rape.

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that Adewoye committed the offenses on April 17 at 5.00 p.m. on Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry.

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Adeosun said that Adewoye had sexual intercourse with the 22-year-old lady without her consent, in contravention of Sections 260 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, did not take the plea of Adewoye.

He said that he needed advice from the state director of public prosecutions.

The chief magistrate ordered that the defendant should be kept in a custodial facility pending the advice.

He adjourned the case until June 3 for mention.

Lagos cleric, 45, docked for raping 22-year-old lady

(NAN)

metro

Pregnant woman among nine people injured in Lagos gas explosion

Published

4 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Pregnant woman among nine people injured in Lagos gas explosion

A pregnant woman and eight other people sustained varying degrees of injuries after a gas explosion rocked the Alaba Lane area of Alayabiagba Community in Lagos, Nigeria.

New Telegraph reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 12:39 pm.

According to Amodu Shakiru, the Head of Public Education at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, preliminary investigations suggest that a leaking gas cylinder among several being traded in the neighborhood triggered the explosion.

The leak caused a high-tension cable to snap, starting a fire that destroyed four commercial tricycles, six lock-up shops, and a portion of a bungalow building.

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“The Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and fire stations in Ajegunle and Sari-Iganmu quickly responded to the incident and were able to contain the fire.

“The Lagos State Ambulance Service also provided initial care to the injured, including the pregnant woman and children.”

“The pregnant woman and eight other victims, both male and female, are currently receiving treatment at the Gbagada Burn & Trauma Center and Ajeromi General Hospital for their burn injuries.”

In a separate incident, reports indicate that no fewer than 14 buildings were gutted by fire in Dosumu Market, located in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.