Yes, some of the kidnappers are Igbos, but not all kidnappers in Nigeria are Igbo

Is Onovo an ignorant police head? Is he an incompetent police head. He is not ignorant or at most he is partly ignorant but he is seriously incompetent, To hide his incompetence, Onovo, has sacrified his own people in order to look good and be able to keep his job in the face of police incapability to stem crime in Nigeria. Igbos should make sure that Onovo is fired for his careless rants that all kidnappers in Nigeria are Igbos. Onovo has stoked the fire of Igbo hatred in the minds of other Nigerians who do not like Igbos in the first place.

Kidnapping started in the Niger Delta and today those pioneer kidnappers are enjoying federal government training. How many of those are Igbos? The kidnappers cursed by Oba of Benin and some of them relocated to Ibadan, how many of them are Igbos? Those kidnapping medical doctors in Edo are they Igbos? The kidnappers in Owo who kidnapped several Igbo traders, how many of them are Igbo? The kidnapppers operating in Akwa Ibom, how many of them are Igbo? Let Onovo mention the names of all the kidnappers in Nigeria, both those presently under police custoday, those already convicted and those pardoned and amnestied by the federal government.

For example, the kidnappers listed in the news story in the links below are not Igbos and there are hundreds of such incidences not involving Igbos on the internet
http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=8221&z=12http://www.igbofocus.co.uk/html/akwa_ibom_state.html
http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/7938-2


All Igbos should unite to ask that Onovo be fired and replaced by a more competent cop, except he apologises

What are the names of these kidnappers?

Police launch manhunt for kidnappers of Ondo officials’ wives
By Oseheye Okwuofu Published 17/06/2009 News Rating: Unrated
A manhunt for the kidnappers of the wives of the Ondo State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, and a Permanent Secretary, Mrs Iyabo Basaru and Mrs Sola Alli has begun.

Assistant-Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11 , Mr. Mohammed Yesuf, has arrived in the state to join the in the rescue effort.

Although the details of the meeting between Yesuf and Commissioner of Police Charles Dawodu were not known as at press time last night, it was learnt that the visit was necessitated by the disturbing report of the incident.

The AIG, who arrived at the State Police Command amid tight security, was said to have been shocked by the incident, and vowed to bring the abductors to justice.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Kolawole Olabisi, said the government and security operatives were working round the clock to ensure that the women who were seized last Sunday are found.

He urged members of the public to discountenance the rumour making rounds that the state government had agreed to pay a N20 million ransom to the kidnappers.

The homes of the Basarus and Allis have been playing host to visitors who came to sympathise with the families over the unfortunate incident.

Mrs Basaru and Alli were kidnapped by six armed men on Sunday evening at the home of Basarus at Ajipowo, Akure.

Ondo State PDP Chairman, Driver Kidnapped

Dr. Tayo Dairo
The Ondo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tayo Dairo and his Driver Mr Sola Abidoye were kidnapped at about 8pm on Saturday.

The kidnapping took place at Okada, Edo State along Benin-Ore express way by armed men who have demanded a ransom of N50million.

Dairo, also the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was traveling from Iju-Odo in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, after attending a PDP caucus meeting. He was heading towards Benin when he was seized by the kidnappers.

They were said to have followed him from the venue of the meeting to Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the Sunshine State.

The Ondo State Government, in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, confirmed the incident.

He described the kidnap of Dr Tayo Dairo as shocking and another sad commentary on the increasing spate of insecurity in the nation.

While urging men of the security agencies to do all on their part to facilitate the immediate release of Dairo and bring the culprits to book, the government however cautioned against the politicization of the incident.

The statement described the kidnapping as unfortunate and a national malaise that must be arrested in the overall interest of innocent citizens and for the nation’s corporate image.

Assuring that no stone would be left unturned in its desire to ensure the safety of lives and property in the State, the government warned intending perpetrators of crime to steer clear as the state would not be a safe haven for criminals.

Speaking on the incident, Ondo State PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe expressed regret over the incident, noting that it had become a recurrent threat to lives and property within the country’s political space.

He vowed that the party would leave no stone unturned in the efforts to secure the release of the chairman and urged the family to remain calm as contact had been established with the kidnappers and the chairman whom he said is hale and hearty.

A growing spate of kidnappings has increased the sense of insecurity in the nation, with security agencies seemingly powerless to combat it.

Youths kidnap, release 5 traders
Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 15.09.2008

Suspected armed youths in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State penultimate Saturday allegedly kidnapped five Igbo traders in the town and released them last Friday after spending nine days in captivity.


The victims, Okechukwu Okafor, Mike, Chigozie, Nwanekezi and Monday Agboh, were kidnapped on Saturday, September 6 and were released last Friday after a ransom was paid to the abductors by the Igbo community in Owo.


To this end, the Igbo community in the town has threatened to organise a peaceful protest in the town today to express its displeasure with the plight of the traders.


The members of the Igbo community, who protested to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Dawodu, after the release of their kinsmen, revealed how some militant youths had been tormenting them in the town


The chairman of the community, Mr. Eze Chidozie, explained that the youth had kidnapped 16 Igbo people in the last one year and ransoms were paid before they were released.


“These militant youths will just enter our stores, carry our goods and ask us to pay certain amount of money before they will release the items and any attempt to argue with them, they will just kidnap that person and take him to their cell.


“Thereafter, they will demand for ransom which starts from N100,000 and they will not release the victim until their demand is met,” he said.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/15092008/news/news11.html
_________________________
_________________________
5 Igbo traders abducted in Owo

Sunday Kudaisi, Akure


Kidnapping which is fast becoming a way of life in the riverine oil producing areas of Ondo State, at the weekend, spread to the ancient city of Owo, as suspected armed youths abducted five Igbo traders.

The victims who were alleged to have been kidnapped on September 6 were released at the weekend after an undisclosed huge ransom was allegedly paid by the Owo Igbo community.

Those kidnapped included Messrs Okechukwu Okafor, Mike, Chigozie Nwanekezi and Monday Agboh.

Chairman of the Igbo community in Owo Mr Eze Chidozie, said several Igbos operating in the town had closed down business, adding that they will not open for business until government security agents assure them that their lives are safe.

The kidnappers allegedly consented to release of the abducted people after the intervention of Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, the Ojomoluda of Ijebu Owo, Oba……Ojomo and some notable Owo chieftains.

The Igbo community in Owo, who however protested to the State police commissioner, Charles Dawodu, after the release of their kinsmen, narrated how the militant youths alleged to be palace boys, Eyin Ogbe boys and Iloro youths made life unbearable for the Igbo people living in Owo kingdom.

Chidozie told journalists in Akure that the militant youths had in the last one year, kidnapped 16 Igbo people and demanded huge sums of money which they paid.

He said: "They just enter our stores carry our goods and ask us to pay certain amount of money before they will release the items and any attempt to argue with them, they will just bundled that person and take him to their cell.

"Thereafter, they will be demanding for money ranging from N100, 000 and above and they will not release the victim until their demand is met."

The Igbo community also alleged that the ugly development had lead to the death of two traders, saying the militants have turned it to be their rights to be entering shops operated by the Igbo traders and threatening to kill or maim them if they (the Igbo traders) don’t meet their demands.

The target of the militants is especially those that are into timber business, electronics, medicines and motor spare parts.

The intimidation and harassment he said have been reported to the Olowo and Ojomoluda but that the looting spree of Igbo shops with impunity have not been stopped.

The chairman appealed to the state police commissioner to rescue the Igbo from the hands of the militants who had turned kidnapping and looting of Igbo store to source of their daily income.

Chiedozie noted that such actions will strain the cordial relationship between the Owo people and the Igbo traders in the town. Adding that all Igbo people in Ondo State would today (Monday) storm Owo and join their kinsmen on a peace protest against the activities of the militants.

Confirming the incident, the state Mr. Dawodu said the victims of the alleged kidnapped never reported the cases to the police.

Daudu said the victims had been keeping the information to themselves, noting that now that it’s getting out of their hands that they took the appropriate step of reporting to the police.

The police boss assured the people that the criminal incident would not recur, saying he had contacted the monarch of the ancient city and other prominent traditional chiefs to stamp out the heinous activities of the illegal militant youths.
http://www.champion-newspapers.com/news/article12_150908.htm

Who are these kidnappers?

Ekiti monarch, college provost kidnapped, killed in auto crash
Cover Stories Jan 30, 2010 •Drivers too, Oni shocked

By Gbenga Ariyibi

Ado Ekiti – A first class monarch in Ekiti State, the Attah of Aiyede, Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi, and the acting provost, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Dr Gabriel Olowoyo, were, Saturday, kidnapped at different locations and killed in an auto-crash as the abductors tried to escape with them.

Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the monarch was coming from a function in Lagos with his son, Lanre and driver when they were kidnapped along Ilawe-Ado Ekiti Road.

The kidnappers, numbering seven, allegedly operated in a Liteace bus and raided as they passed through Ikole Ekiti until they got to Ilasa in Ekiti East Local Government area of the state where they kidnapped Olowoyo, his personal assistant and driver as they were returning from Abuja.

The kidnappers were said to have intercepted the provost’s Toyota Camry official car after buying fuel in the town.

The kidnappers were said to have ordered all their victims into their bus and drove towards Kabba Lokoja Road where, upon sighting a patrol team of the Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC], the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree, killing the monarch, the acting provost and their drivers.

According to Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment, Otunba Segun Olanrewaju, who hails from Ayede Ekiti, the monarch’s son, Lanre, survived the accident, but suffered fracture.

He explained that the provost and the two aides were returning from Abuja where Olowoyo had gone for a meeting.

Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni, yesterday, described the death of the monarch, provost and their drivers as shocking.

Chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Ojo_Lanre, in a statement, said the governor was shocked when he received the news of the abduction and death.

over Stories Jan 30, 2010 •Drivers too, Oni shocked

By Gbenga Ariyibi

Ado Ekiti – A first class monarch in Ekiti State, the Attah of Aiyede, Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi, and the acting provost, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Dr Gabriel Olowoyo, were, Saturday, kidnapped at different locations and killed in an auto-crash as the abductors tried to escape with them.

Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the monarch was coming from a function in Lagos with his son, Lanre and driver when they were kidnapped along Ilawe-Ado Ekiti Road.

The kidnappers, numbering seven, allegedly operated in a Liteace bus and raided as they passed through Ikole Ekiti until they got to Ilasa in Ekiti East Local Government area of the state where they kidnapped Olowoyo, his personal assistant and driver as they were returning from Abuja.

The kidnappers were said to have intercepted the provost’s Toyota Camry official car after buying fuel in the town.

The kidnappers were said to have ordered all their victims into their bus and drove towards Kabba Lokoja Road where, upon sighting a patrol team of the Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC], the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree, killing the monarch, the acting provost and their drivers.

According to Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment, Otunba Segun Olanrewaju, who hails from Ayede Ekiti, the monarch’s son, Lanre, survived the accident, but suffered fracture.

He explained that the provost and the two aides were returning from Abuja where Olowoyo had gone for a meeting.

Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni, yesterday, described the death of the monarch, provost and their drivers as shocking.

Chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Ojo_Lanre, in a statement, said the governor was shocked when he received the news of the abduction and death.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/01/30/ekiti-monarch-college-provost-kidnapped-killed-in-auto-crash/

What are the names of those who abducted elechi Amadi? Are they from the south east?
http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=334&z=12

A  few days ago, I warned these ppl not to bring their rubbishness to my state.

Now they had to audacity to kill a full monarch? Insolence.

This will not go unpunished

Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni, yesterday, described the death of the monarch, provost and their drivers as shocking.

ONI IS SO BLOODY USELESS. "SHOCKING"?! What is he going to do about it? NOTHING AS USUAL. Mehn, if a man was ever so incompetent . . . .

Are these 50, fully armed abductors Igbos?

Militants kidnap Portuguese engineer in Ondo
Sunday, February 08, 2009 - By Femi Makinde, Akure



Rating : by 0 users Viewed 13 times





Militants operating in Ondo State have kidnapped an expatriate engineer working with Picolo Construction Company.

Mr. Luis Jose Rentad was reportedly abducted at Ajagba town in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday while working at a site.

It was gathered that the abductors, numbering about 50 and fully armed with sophisticated weapons and explosive materials, stormed Ajagba in five motorised boats and forcibly took Rentad away to an unknown abode.

Rentad was said to be the only expatriate at the site as at the time the kidnappers struck.

The construction company is executing a road that will link Irele with Ese-Odo and Ilaje local government areas.

A source told our correspondent that the abductors had demanded a huge amount as ransom before they would release Rentad. He added that negotiations were still on as at Sunday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, told our correspondent that Rentad would be released very soon “as serious efforts were on the way to effect his release.”

It was learnt that the Chairman of the Irele Local Government, Chief Akintoye Albert, was also making moves to secure the release of the expatriate.

The road contract, which has come under heavy criticisms mostly by the Ilaje, was awarded by the state government but was paid for with the fund allocated to the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission.

Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas are the two councils which the OSOPADEC has the mandate to develop.

Some hoodlums last year sacked a police station in Irele and went away with all the arms and ammunition in the station. A militant group, however, came to the rescue of the police.

The militant group, after some weeks, recovered the arms and ammunition and returned them to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Dawodu

Who are these kidnappers?
Ekiti TUC boss, monarch’s daughter abducted
Ekiti TUC boss, monarch’s daughter abducted
By Odunayo OgunmolaPublished 4/08/2009NewsRating: Unrated
• Revenue board’s wife seized
Residents of Ekiti State are gripped by fear,following last Sunday’s killing of three policemen by robbers.

Besides, kidnappers have laid a siege to the state.

The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Raphael Olaiya and Miss Adedoyin Ademileka, daughter of the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemi Ademileka, have been kidnapped.

Although the Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Mr. Femi Ajepe, who was abducted last weekend, has been released, but his wife is still in the kidnappers’ den.

The hoodlums allegedly released Ajepe to source for a N30 million ransom for his wife.

The 15-year-old princess, who was kidnapped with her mum, is also being held by the hoodlums, who are demanding a N10 million ransom from the monarch before his daughter’s release.

Olaiya, who works at the Ministry of Justice, was kidnapped in Ikole-Ekiti with his wife and a man simply identified as Chief Kayode Olusola. No ransom has been demanded by his abductors, it was learnt.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti branch, Mr. Bamidele Omotoso, said Olaiya was kidnapped in Ikole-Ekiti.

The development, he said, prevented him (Olaiya) from appearing in a matter before an Ado-Ekiti High Court.

He said Olaiya was in Ikole to meet one of his clients in respect of a chieftaincy suit when the kidnappers seized him and the others.

Omotoso said he had been trying to establish contact with the TUC chief but all his lines were not going through.

Ajepe and his wife were seized on Saturday by kidnappers who were said to have trailed them from Akure, Ondo State.

The revenue board boss was released the next day. His wife is still being held by the kidnappers who are demanding a N30 million ransom.

Ajepe was sighted in his office and the Governor’s Office yesterday.

Oba Ademileka’s wife was released by the kidnappers who are still holding on to his daughter.

A member of the House of Assembly representing Ilawe, Hon. Ajewole Ashaolu, confirmed the incident.

The Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fabian Ojiri, confirmed all the incidents, except Ajepe’s, which, he said had not been reported to the police as at press time.

Some of the cases, he said could be traced to communal crises while others were allegedly stage-managed.

Ojiri said: "I can say that most of these abductions are as a result of internal crises in all these communities. Take, for instance, immediately the Olori of Alawe and her daughter were abducted, the kidnappers called the DPO in Ekiti South West Local Government Area to come to Ikere to pick her car.

"So, the question now is this: how did they know his number, if not for the fact that it was perpetrated by those in that community?

"I have put my men on the alert and by the grace of God, these evil doers will soon be unravelled and made to face the full weight of the law, because the security of lives and property is paramount and must be protected with utmost zeal."

Is Segun, as well as Lekan from Osun State also Igbos?
Police parade suspected kidnappers in Lagos


Anambra gets vigilance group

From Odita Sunday (Lagos) and Uzoma Nzeagwu (Awka)
NEMESIS yesterday caught up with four suspected kidnappers in Lagos as they were arrested and paraded by the police.



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The suspects allegedly abducted a 10-year-old boy and demanded N15 million ransom for their victim's parents.

Meanwhile, a new security outfit, Anambra State Vigilante Service (AVS) was yesterday inaugurated in the state to check the rising crime wave.

The suspects, amidst tears, told reporters that it was their third adventure into the business of kidnapping and that their victims were usually children of the rich whom they believe could meet their demands.

They were paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, at the headquarters of the command in Oduduwa, Ikeja, Lagos.

One of the suspects, Segun, told reporters that it was their third operation in kidnapping business, adding: "This is our third time into this business; I was caught and released the first time. The second one was successful and we were able to collect N500,000 ransom. We kidnapped a boy then and demanded N2 million but they gave us N500,000. They brought the money to a place in Iyana Iba where we asked them to bring it. We kept the boy then for five days and released him after they dropped the money where we asked them to bring it."

Another suspect, Lekan, said their hideout was in an uncompleted building around Iyana Iba area where they keep their victims pending response from their parents. He said he just got an admission into Olabisi Onabanjo University.

" I am 22-years old, from Osun State. Our victims are usually children of rich people. So, we get information from people living in the area and we work on the information, target their children and pick them. I and my other friend stay with the victim while the other two go out to make calls. I am a student, I just got my admission letter to Olabisi Onabanjo University. I hope to repent from this way if I am released this time," Lekan said.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Uzor Amakulor, who inaugurated the AVS otherwise called Scorpion Squad, at the command headquarters, Amawbia, charged the members to work in co-operation with the police to tackle what he termed an upsurge of violent crimes in the state.

He also warned against their interference in or settling public disputes, which, according to him, was outside AVS mandate.

"Today, we formally inaugurate Anambra Vigilante Service; it has become necessary because of the rising wave of crimes," he said and recalled that the outfit had been in existence in the state before now, adding that the police would regulate their roles.

"The challenges of violent crime is, when you suspect criminals, in case of hostage taking, it comes in various forms. They give the impression of coming as armed robbers, but they eventually pick up a young man or woman, old people, a child. We don't want to experience such any more.

"The IGP has warned that he didn't want to hear of such crimes any more," Amakulor said. He charged men of the squad to inculcate discipline and work within the ambit of protecting live and property of Anambra citizens.

Explaining further on their mode of operation, he said the co-ordinator would work directly with the Police High Command in Anambra, while at the local council level, they would form the grassroots to cover all areas.

Earlier in his address, the Co-ordiantor of AVS, Chief Kenneth Okonkwo, emphasised that their mission is to combat criminal activities and give Anambra people a new lease of life.

According to him, the squad would be on 24 hours patrol and surveillance of the major cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi among other towns, warning that the state can no longer be safe haven for criminals

Hmm, I tire. Bro, Biko, No vexxx

Yes, Onovo should resign immediately. He is incompetent and in a bid to cover his incompetence, he sells off his people to curry favour before other Nigerians by falsely claiming that all kidnappers are Igbo. Unlike Onovo's ignorance, it is as clear as daylight that there are Yoruba kidnappers, Igbo kidnappers, Niger Delta Kidnappers and possibly, Northern kidnappers. Let the police publish the names of all the kidnappers in their custody. It is time to name and shame them, be they of any ethnic hue.

Onovo is silly with that comment. He's an embarrassment.

www.undergroundphones.com will solve this kidnapping problem. Since we know our police is in shambles, its important to get a product that will do all the investigative work that our police cannot do.

It will also solve many other problems. It will tack kidnappers down within days.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-479569.0.html

Bros, I share the same sentiment on this. I am particularly embarrassed because I remember canvassing for his ascendancy to the I.G position right here on nairaland. The guy rewarded us with a big slap in the face. I should have known that no product of the Nigerian police force is capable of rational thought or clean dealings. Anyone who rose through the rank of the Nigerian police force up to IG level is a typical corrupt and morally bankrupt individual. Clean officers never make it that high in the ranks. You have to be a hidden criminal and a murderer to rise. If he is a clean person, he would have resigned for failing to do his job, but no. He had to throw his own people under the bus to save his stinking hide.

Onovo should just shut up. He will soon lose his job anyway because the president has beamed his searchlight on the leadership of the police to find out why they have failed to arrest the crime in Nigeria.

Onovo should get ready to head to Siberia soon because no sane Igbo man would touch him with a 100 feet pole. He is ALONE now.

^^^^
I agree Onovo has not been successful at steming the tides of crime and corruption in his own force. When I was in Nigeria last year, I drove from Abuja to Enugu. The first thing that struck me was that as soon as you arrive Igboland, the Nigerian police set up money collection toll check points every mile or so, until your destination. Onovo and his people knew and tolerated this crime for more than one year. These toll gates have been suspected to be the police informational unit, giving out information about potential kidnap victims as they pass through the check points. The incident in Abia seems to verify this claim, because the journalists were picked up as soon as they passed another illegal check points.

Having said that Onovo could do better as IGP, let's not forget that the policing system in Nigeria was almost designed for failure at best and corruption at worst. Despite numerous previous complaints for the review of the system, the calls have largely fallen on deaf ears, because there is no political will to let different localities run their own basic policing efforts. How do we expect an Hausa DPO to effectively run the police affairs in my small town in Enugu state when the man, with all the best intentions can't even speak the language. The new DPO doesn't even know how to get from point A-to-B in his new posting, and he doesn't know the people of the area to start with. The same situation applies to Igbo and Yoruba officers posted to other parts of the country where they are 'visitors'

Compared to the situation in the US, for example. The police knows the names, the car make and model, and even the occupation of most members of their precint. The people also know their police. Crime is typically solved from information and tips from the people who are comfortable interacting the their local police. Above the local police, we have FBI, Federal marshall and other unknown policing agents. Why can't some one take a leaf from the US arrangement? It's bound to work better in Nigeria than what we have at the moment.

Another issue confronting our local police is Nigeria is funding for basic 2010 policing devices, such as phone tracking machines, emergency services and communications. While the police affairs minister has been blamed for underfunding and underequipping the force, the facts remain that politically our police force is not the only institution that is broken.

The Nigerian police force is like a molue bus without wheels, and we're asking it to go fast, fast and faster. Now, put a bad driver at the steering wheels, and we have Onovo. In summary, firing the driver maybe a very short term political remedy, but refitting the bus with wheels would be the ideal solution. Buying a brand new 2010 model of the bus would be even better solution.

naijaking1:

^^^^
I agree Onovo has not been successful at steming the tides of crime and corruption in his own force. When I was in Nigeria last year, I drove from Abuja to Enugu. The first thing that struck me was that as soon as you arrive Igboland, the Nigerian police set up money collection toll check points every mile or so, until your destination. Onovo and his people knew and tolerated this crime for more than one year. These toll gates have been suspected to be the police informational unit, giving out information about potential kidnap victims as they pass through the check points. The incident in Abia seems to verify this claim, because the journalists were picked up as soon as they passed another illegal check points.

Having said that Onovo could do better as IGP, let's not forget that the policing system in Nigeria was almost designed for failure at best and corruption at worst. Despite numerous previous complaints for the review of the system, the calls have largely fallen on deaf ears, because there is no political will to let different localities run their own basic policing efforts. How do we expect an Hausa DPO to effectively run the police affairs in my small town in Enugu state when the man, with all the best intentions can't even speak the language. The new DPO doesn't even know how to get from point A-to-B in his new posting, and he doesn't know the people of the area to start with. The same situation applies to Igbo and Yoruba officers posted to other parts of the country where they are 'visitors'

Compared to the situation in the US, for example. The police knows the names, the car make and model, and even the occupation of most members of their precint. The people also know their police. Crime is typically solved from information and tips from the people who are comfortable interacting the their local police. Above the local police, we have FBI, Federal marshall and other unknown policing agents. Why can't some one take a leaf from the US arrangement? It's bound to work better in Nigeria than what we have at the moment.

Another issue confronting our local police is Nigeria is funding for basic 2010 policing devices, such as phone tracking machines, emergency services and communications. While the police affairs minister has been blamed for underfunding and underequipping the force, the facts remain that politically our police force is not the only institution that is broken.

The Nigerian police force is like a molue bus without wheels, and we're asking it to go fast, fast and faster. Now, put a bad driver at the steering wheels, and we have Onovo. In summary, firing the driver maybe a very short term political remedy, but refitting the bus with wheels would be the ideal solution. Buying a brand new 2010 model of the bus would be even better solution.

My brother, thank you for a very incisive post. You captured all the important points. I have always advocated for an overhaul of the policing system in Nigeria, and I know it is bound to happen soon. There are no other ways. This system stinks to high heavens.
My grouse with Onovo on this issue is that instead of him putting forward an idea for an effective police reform, he is busy throwing his own people under the bus. He singled the Igbo out for a crime that exists in all parts of Nigeria. That makes him a very stooopid man, because he failed to see that it was the same Igbo worked tirelessly to make him the I.G. We really believed he could transform the Nigerian police system. He failed. Instead now he is blaming the Igbo for his problems. When Balogun and Okiro were there, did they blame Ijaw groups for the kidnappings in their time?
The man just ridiculed himself before the whole nation, and Igbos will now work to help remove him from his failed position.

How many of these Delta State Kidnappers are Igbo?

The police and operatives of the State Security Service in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested a total of 21 suspected kidnappers and 25 cultists.



While the Delta Command of the Police picked up 17 suspected kidnappers and 25 culprits from different parts of the state, the SSS in Abuja nabbed four suspects who allegedly abducted a civil servant and a businessman.



The Delta suspects were paraded before newsmen in Asaba, the state capital, on Tuesday, as a prelude to their arraignment in court for prosecution.



The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, gave the names of the victims of the suspected kidnappers to include Madams Afuenya Abaja and Elizabeth Ngeligu as well as Mrs. Stella Dafinone, Mrs. Queen Ogboru and Mrs. Malechi Odozi.



Alkali said the suspected kidnappers were apprehended from different locations in the state, adding that the feat was made possible by the support of members of the public who volunteered information to the security agency.



He said the gang which abducted Queen and Odozi had demanded N400,000 and N30,000 ransom sums respectively, before the police swooped on them at a hide-out.



He identified the suspected kidnappers to include, Fedelis Ojugbale, Chinedu Oruya, Ediki Ogeraga, Julius Onoameya, Odrehohwo Egieta, Lucky Atunusha, Henry Owokpite, Favour Akpowma and Nicholas Odu.



Others, according to Delta CP are: Fidelis Ochuko, Kelvin Itejere, Kelly Ochuko Jonathan, Joseph Enakpodia, and Daniel Akeghe.



Furthermore, Alkali stated that Madams Abaja and Ngeligu were kidnapped by a12-man gang at Umukwuata in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state.



In the Abuja arrests, the suspects were at the point of collecting the N500,000 ransom they demanded from the families of their victims when they were nabbed by SSS operatives.



The members of the kidnap gang include Ifeanyi Chukwuka, Ezebunwa Ogbonna (a.k.a Oceanic), Nkem Nna, and James Chinweikpe.



Parading the suspected kidnappers in Abuja on Tuesday, the SSS Director, FCT Command Headquarters, Mr. Mike Fubara, said they had asked for a ransom of N50m through their leader, identified as Chukwudi who was still at large, before reducing it to N.5m.



According to Fubara, investigation have shown that most kidnap cases in the FCT were perpetrated by non –residents who lodged in small hotels in the suburbs, posing as construction workers which enable them to come and go at will without the management of such hotels suspecting their activities.



While promising that the service, alongside other security operatives would do everything possible to rid the FCT of such hoodlums, Fubara appealed to members of the public to always alert security operatives on the activities of persons they suspect.

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