News
INSECURITY: Wike places N20m bounty on two wanted Abuja kidnappers
By Francesca Hangeior
The Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike has put a N20 million bounty on two wanted kidnappers, Dahiru Adamu and Abu Ibrahim, who has allegedly been terrorising the nation’s capital.
This was as he ordered police officers to fish out the kidnappers, dead or alive.
He stated this on Wednesday when he met the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, during a parade of 23 criminal suspects, at the FCT Police Command Headquarters, Garki, Abuja.
He noted that his administration would not give criminals breathing space just as they’ve not been giving FCT residents breathing space.
Seven other members of the kidnapping gang – Usman Muhazu, Aliyu Muhammed, Auwal Lahiru, Rabiu Sani, Madina Abubakar, Jonah Elimelechi, and Saminu Idris; have been arrested by a combined team of operatives of the Utako Divisional Headquarters and the Anti-Kidnapping team, following credible intelligence.
They were arrested in Pyankasa, Tudun Wada, and Ketti village, FCT, in connection to the kidnap of 14 notable persons in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on Wednesday, while calling on the attention of the CP, Wike said, “You’re still looking for two amongst them, right? Okay, I will put money on them. I have placed a N20 million bounty on the two of them. Anyone who finds them would get the N20 million.
“Fish them out, dead or alive. We will not give them breathing space just as they’ve not been giving us breathing space,” the Minister added.
Speaking earlier, CP Igweh noted, “Seven members of a kidnapping gang, Usman Muhazu, Aliyu Muhammed, Auwal Lahiru, Rabiu Sani, Madina Abubakar, Jonah Elimelechi, Saminu Idris, have been arrested by a combined team of operatives of the Utako Divisional Headquarters and the Anti-Kidnapping team, following credible intelligence.
“They were arrested in Pyankasa, Tudun Wada and Ketti village, FCT, in connection to the kidnap of 14 notable persons in the Federal Capital Territory. They were arrested by operatives of the Utako Divisional Headquarters and the Anti-Kidnapping team, following credible intelligence.
“However, we are still looking for two remaining members of the gang, Dahiru Adamu and Abu Ibrahim whose wives were arrested while they were about to receive a N9 million ransom on behalf of their husbands who are on the run.
“Members of this gang of kidnappers who have been giving the FCT sleepless nights and are on the wanted list of the command for a long time, have now been arrested. They are responsible for the kidnapping of five victims in Federal Mortgage Housing Estate, Kabusa, three persons at Ketti village, Fulani residence of Alhaji Sani.”
The police boss added that “the abduction of a woman and her gate man in Kabusa Estate, one Mr Sunday Zakwai and four others. They equally killed a district head. And two staff members were kidnapped at the Defence Estate, Kabusa.”
During the parade, the CP noted that a total of 23 suspects were arrested, while ₦9 million, six AK-47 rifles, bulletproof vests, and a locally-fabricated walkie-talkie, were recovered from them.
Igweh added, “A total of 23 suspects were arrested, while ₦9million, six AK-47 riffles, bulletproof vests, and a locally-fabricated walkie-talkie, were recovered from them.
“Aside from the seven suspected kidnappers arrested, we also arrested some -one-chance suspects, and others for various offences. On February 11, at about 4:00 pm, the operatives of the FCT Police Command attached to Mabushi Divisional Headquarters, in the continued fight against criminality arrested eight notorious armed robbery suspects terrorising the FCT.
“The arrested suspects are; Auwal Yusuf (an ex-convict), Ismail Hudu, Sylvester Poto and Abdusalam Mamuda, Sunday Udoma aka Akido, Ifeoma Ngoze-Obodo, Muhammed Telegbe aka Chocolate, Sarah Mohammed-Telegbe.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the suspects who are responsible for several one-chance activities in the past were trailed to Central Area in an attempt to rob some innocent residents and were promptly arrested. The suspects confessed to using toy guns and knives to scare their victims to illegally obtain from them. The suspects will be charged to court soon.”
Kidnapping and banditry have become a menace in the country as bandits have abducted several Nigerians and received ransoms in millions.
In January 2024, operatives of the Special Intervention Squad, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, neutralised three notorious bandits in a forest within the Bwari area of Abuja.
Within the same month, a kidnap kingpin identified as Janari, who was said to have masterminded several kidnappings within Kaduna State and Abuja, alongside some of his foot soldiers were killed during operations conducted by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in Kaduna state.
The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken to her verified Facebook page to raise a serious alarm, alleging that her life is in danger following a reported attack on her family house in Kogi State.
In the strongly worded post, the Kogi-born lawmaker fingered some high-ranking political figures in Nigeria, declaring that should anything happen to her, the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and the current state Governor, Usman Ododo, should be held accountable.
“Nigeria Police, I reiterate, should any harm befall me, Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ex Gov. Yahaya Bello & Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi state should be held responsible,” she posted.
Her statement comes, hours after her family home in Kogi was attacked, although details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
Recall that this is not the first time the Kogi senator is making such allegations against the trio. She made the same statement few weeks ago during her homecoming to Kogi State where she accused the senate president, Akpabio and Yahaya Bello for plotting evil against her.
Senator Natasha has been a vocal political figure and critic of the ruling establishment in Kogi, and this latest development adds to the growing tension in the state and national political landscape.
Authorities are yet to issue an official response to her recent allegations.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, saying he wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state.
In a move that has continued to divide opinions, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly following months of political crisis in Rivers State.
But Wike said the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.
The former Rivers governor said this on Friday in Abuja during a media parley with select journalists.
“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.” Wike said.
However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.
“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
In February, the Supreme Court waded into the months-long political crisis in Rivers State, asking the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the state’s House of Assembly to resume sitting.
The apex court also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop releasing funds to the Rivers State government over what it labelled as disregard for court orders. It dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker and asked the governor to re-present the budget to the lawmakers.
After weeks of back and forth between Amaewhule and the lawmakers over the budget re-presentation and moves to impeach Fubara, President Tinubu stepped in.
He suspended Fubara and his deputy and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, citing security reasons. Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator, a step Wike said saved Rivers.
“Mr president came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy,” the FCT minister argued.
-
News12 hours agoTinubu Remains Engaged In Governance From Europe, Will Return After Easter – Presidency
-
News21 hours agoAbuja light rail project must be commissioned on May 29-Wike vows
-
News22 hours agoJust in: Alleged Herdsmen Armed With AK-47 Rifles Take Over Communities In Benue State
-
News12 hours agoFirst Lady Convoy Kills Seven-Year-Old Girl In Ondo State
-
News22 hours agoSEYI Tinubu Speaks On Alleged Abduction, Brutalization Of NANS President Atiku Abubakar Isah
-
Foreign12 hours agoTrump To Close US Embassies In South Sudan, France, Others
-
News3 hours ago
Emergency Rule: We should be thankful to President Tinubu -Wike
-
News11 hours agoNJC investigates 18 Imo judges over suspected age falsification