Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Kidnappers on the prowl in Lagos

Sesan Olufowobi


It was like a scene from a gangster movie. A woman and her child, who was in a uniform of a private school, were standing in front of a house at Alakuko outskirts of Lagos State.


Pupils of a primary school.



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Suddenly, two young men on a motorcycle, popularly called okada rode into the area and stopped in front of the woman.

Before the woman could ask them what they wanted, the young man, who rode the okada slapped the woman, and before she could recover from the assault, the other passenger snatched the child from the woman and they zoomed off on the motorcycle. By the time the child was released, the family had cough up N500, 000 as ransom.

In Iju area of the state, another primary school pupil slept in one of the rooms in his father's hotel. By the time the father was ready to go home, the child had disappeared. For about three weeks, the family ran from pillar to post to secure his release. Even after the ransom was paid, the kidnappers did not release the child until after a few days later.

The two separate incidents are experiences of some parents in the past few weeks in Lagos.

There are at least six of such incidents that PUNCH METRO discovered between November and December. Apart from the Alakuko incident where the kidnappers collected N500, 000 ransome, investigation by PUNCH METRO showed that the kidnappers sometimes accepted what a victim's family could offer as a ransom.

The method being used by the kidnappers is to strike suddenly and the victims are usually pupils between age three and five.

That was what happened in Itire area of the state where two pupils were kidnapped on the same day. PUNCH METRO gathered that on the day, one of the pupils was abducted on the street while returning from his school; while the second one was abducted from school by a man, who pretended to be the victim's relative.

The same strategy was also used in Ikorodu area of the state. Two sets of Kidnappers visited the same school and concocted a story, which eventually made the school authorities to release two pupils to them.

Although these victims are back with their families; our correspondent discovered that , apart from the Iju incident, none of the other families reported the incident to the police.

The families also shunned enquiries from PUNCH METRO and those who talked to our correspondent insisted that their names, locations and identities of the victims should not be revealed.

The mother of the child that was kidnapped in Alakuko said that the kidnappers specifically warned the family that the matter should not be reported to either the police or press. She added that the kidnappers warned that they would not release the child if the family ignored the warning.

"And you expect us to call their bluff; is that fair? We have our child now and that is what matters," the mother told our correspondent.

The families of the children that were kidnapped in Iju and Alausa also refused to talk our correspondent when PUNCH METRO got hint about the incidents. As soon as our correspondent introduced himself to the father of the child that was kidnapped in Iju, the man simply said, "I will call you." He never did and he refused to pick our correspondent's subsequent calls.

But the police command in the state described the kidnappings as strange, adding that there was nothing to suggest an upsurge of the crime in the state.

Spokesman of the command, Mr. Frank Mba said, "It is a huge surprise to me because our statistics did not show that there was an upsurge in this type of crime. And if there is anything like that, you have to acknowledge the fact that it was not reported to the police. So, there is no way to ascertain that they are saying fact and not fiction."

The spokesman however acknowledged the kidnapping of a pupil in Iju. He said, "In that case, it was one of the workers in the boy's father's hotel that took him; we have since rescued the boy and he is back with his family. But no policeman encouraged the family to pay any ransom. Indeed there is a policy that we are using in the command, which was perfected by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo. We do not pay ransom or negotiate with kidnappers. Ransom is an incentive to perpetuate kidnapping; if the victims don't pay, kidnappers will not have a reason to kidnap.

"There have been a few cases of kidnapping in the past and these were later traced to family members, employees and neighbours who needed little amount of money. These kidnappings were foiled by us and it definitely cannot be compared to serious cases of kidnappings in other parts of the country. And as I said, in all the cases that were reported, the police in Lagos frustrated the payment of ransom and succeeded in saving the victims as well as arresting the would-be kidnappers."

Mba, however, advised parents and guardians to report to the police if their children were abducted or got missing, saying it would be a grave error if such cases were not reported.

He said that the police had the wherewithal to deal with such crime.

Mba said, "But then, if they observe little security tips, they may save themselves some agonies. For instance, people must make sure that employees, especially domestic ones, are properly vetted and even after that you must keep a vigilant eye on them for any sign of sudden change.

"Parents should also make sure that anybody that will pick their children from school must be properly introduced to the school management so that the school will not give the child out to another person.

"Drivers must be encouraged to take alternative routes to schools. And where the children would have to walk, they must walk in groups. The children must also be trained to be wary of strangers.

"Schools should also make sure that they do not release any child to any other person but the designated person. Big schools should also go a step further by installing CCTV.

"Security of our kids is the function of everybody. We must all work collaboratively to protect our children."

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/dec/28/819.html

Ah, I see Ibo boys are avoiding this topic like the plague; coming in then sneaking back out. Theyve brought kidnapping to the West now. . . . . . i said it 8 months ago, and I say again: IN 25 YEARS IBOS WILL REVISE HISTORY AND SAY KIDNAPPING BEGUN IN YORUBA LAND! Yall just watch!

you are just so stupid,my God

what can one say?

bk.babe97y:

Ah, I see Ibo boys are avoiding this topic like the plague; coming in then sneaking back out. Theyve brought kidnapping to the West now. . . . . . i said it 8 months ago, and I say again: IN 25 YEARS IBOS WILL REVISE HISTORY AND SAY KIDNAPPING BEGUN IN YORUBA LAND! Yall just watch!

First let me say this - I am not Ibo. However I do think that the Yoruba criminals are probably kicking themselves that they did not think of militancy and kidnapping before as a way of making money. They are just playing catchup now.

BkBabe acts like a fool.

bk, my igbo brothers are not the only people that are bad,

what about yorubas,,,,edo people,,, calabar people,,,hutus,,,etc

lets respect each other

alj harem1:



bk, my igbo brothers are not the only people that are bad,

what about yorubas,,,,edo people,,, calabar people,,,hutus,,,etc

lets respect each other

What happened to your tribalistic side?

WELL, WELL, WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY.

I AM IBO AND I RESIDE IN ABA, AND I SAW IT ALL WHEN ABA BOILED OVER A FEW MONTHS AGO.

AS FOR THE KIDNAPPING THINGY, FROM MY STUDY, IT IS DEFINITELY AN EASTERN NIGERIAN TREND; BECAUSE OF THE POOR ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURAL NATURE OF THE EAST. IN ABA, THERE ARE HARDLY ANY JOBS FOR THE YOUTHS RESIDING THERE AND THEREFORE, KIDNAPPING WAS A FAST WAY TO MAKKE MONEY.

AS FO IT BEING AN IBO THING, WELL, MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE ITS NOT. I DUNNO WHICH.

Mobinga:

What happened to your tribalistic side?

Ode!

It is called Sarcasm. . . he is being sarcastic

lagbaja20:

Ode!

It is called Sarcasm. . . he is being sarcastic

See this Arrow. What sarcasm is hinted there? Quit displaying your lunacy on every thread.

lagbaja20:

Ode!

It is called Sarcasm.   .    .  he is being sarcastic

Ode!

Where is the sarcasm in his statement? quit being stupíd, it wouldn't make your pénis bigger!

Mobinga:

See this Arrow. What sarcasm is hinted there? Quit displaying your lunacy on every thread.

Didinrin
Try reading between the lines
After going through your previous posts, i doubt you can do better than ask stupit questions?

For once, try using that plasma-like substance located in-between your ears; there is a reason God put it there

MOBINGA AND VIOLENT, CHILL OUT. ALL THESE BACK AND FORTH INSULTS CUOLD GO ON FOREVER AND THERE WOULDNT BE ANY VICTOR NOR VANQUISHED.

TAKE IT EASY GUYS. IF OUR PARENTS AND THEIR GENERATION DESTROYED NIGERIA WITH THEIR TRIBALISTIC TENDENCIES, SHOULD WE EQUALLY DO THE SAME. DONT FORGET THAT DIS-UNITY IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WHICH HAS MADE NIGERIA THUS. IT IS TIME TO SEE AND ACT BEYOND WHAT THE OLDER GENERATION BROUGHT ABOUT.

THINK ABOUT IT GUYS. WE ARE A NEW GENERATION AND A NEW BREED.

Pornodude:


I AM IBO AND I RESIDE IN ABA, AND I SAW IT ALL WHEN ABA BOILED OVER A FEW MONTHS AGO.

AS FOR THE KIDNAPPING THINGY, FROM MY STUDY, IT IS DEFINITELY AN EASTERN NIGERIAN TREND
AS FO IT BEING AN IBO THING, WELL, [b]MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE ITS NOT. [/b]I DUNNO WHICH.

Trust me, "IT IS"!

@POSTER your Sarcasm is just like every other Yoruba illiterate. Well am not an IGBO, neither am i hausa or Yoruba. But i think Yorubas are just to lazy to get a job, all they do is arrest the average man, and bring out their thugs, so far i know from the last rating Yoruba is the most Stupid tribe in nigeria

lagbaja20:

Didinrin
Try reading between the lines
After going through your previous posts, i doubt you can do better than ask stupit questions?

For once, try using that plasma-like substance located in-between your ears; there is a reason God put it there

You are demented. Perhaps you can point out the sarcastic lines, filthy degenerate.

Pornodude:

MOBINGA AND VIOLENT, CHILL OUT. ALL THESE BACK AND FORTH INSULTS CUOLD GO ON FOREVER AND THERE WOULDNT BE ANY VICTOR NOR VANQUISHED.

TAKE IT EASY GUYS. IF OUR PARENTS AND THEIR GENERATION DESTROYED NIGERIA WITH THEIR TRIBALISTIC TENDENCIES, SHOULD WE EQUALLY DO THE SAME. DONT FORGET THAT DIS-UNITY IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WHICH HAS MADE NIGERIA THUS. IT IS TIME TO SEE AND ACT BEYOND WHAT THE OLDER GENERATION BROUGHT ABOUT.

THINK ABOUT IT GUYS. WE ARE A NEW GENERATION AND A NEW BREED.

Trust me, I don't engage in tribalism. I never knew such a thing existed till I read some of these lunatics post thrash. What's the point?

Ymodulus:

@POSTER your Sarcasm is just like every other Yoruba illiterate. Well am not an IGBO, neither am i hausa or Yoruba. But i think Yorubas are just to lazy to get a job, all they do is arrest the average man, and bring out their thugs, so far i know from the last rating Yoruba is the most silly tribe in nigeria

The guy is not of yoruba origin so, why insult yorubas?

Ymodulus:

@POSTER your Sarcasm is just like every other Yoruba illiterate. Well am not an IGBO, neither am i hausa or Yoruba. But i think Yorubas are just[b] to[/b] lazy to get a job, all they do is arrest the average man, and bring out their thugs, so far i know from the last rating Yoruba is the most silly tribe in nigeria

Your people will never be relevant in Nigeria.
You call Yoruba Lazy? How did we become so powerful in nigeria?

Think before you type, Oloshi! oloriburuku.

You will die before your parents!
Amen!

OK AS A TRUEBLOODED NIGERIAN I AM I AM GOING TO ANALYSE NIGERIAN TRIBES FOR YOU GUYS A BIT. I AM SPEAKING FROM MY OWN OPINION AND I DONT SEEK TO HURT ANYONE. I MAY BE RIGHT OR WRONG BUT ITS MY OPINION.

IBO PEOPLE= KIDNAPPING AND 419

YORUBA= YAHOO YAHOO, PROMISCUITY(HAVING MULTIPLE CONCUBINES AND MATES EVEN IN MARRIAGE)

HAUSA PEOPLE= RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE (BOKO HARAM) AND ILLITERACY

NIGER DELTA= MILITANCY AND KIDNAPPING

WHICH IS THE WORST SIN?

ANSWER NONE

@ poster
It can be yorubas or hausas! Crime has nothing to do with ethnicity!  

Pornodude:

OK AS A TRUEBLOODED NIGERIAN I AM I AM GOING TO ANALYSE NIGERIAN TRIBES FOR YOU GUYS A BIT. I AM SPEAKING FROM MY OWN OPINION AND I DONT SEEK TO HURT ANYONE. I MAY BE RIGHT OR WRONG BUT ITS MY OPINION.

IBO PEOPLE= KIDNAPPING AND 419

YORUBA= YAHOO YAHOO, PROMISCUITY(HAVING MULTIPLE CONCUBINES AND MATES EVEN IN MARRIAGE)

HAUSA PEOPLE= RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE (BOKO HARAM) AND ILLITERACY

NIGER DELTA= MILITANCY AND KIDNAPPING

WHICH IS THE WORST SIN?

Ibo people = Kidnapping and 419. Only the worst human beings do such abominable acts

With yahoo, yahoo, you are still using your brain somewhat!

Mobinga:

Trust me, I don't engage in tribalism.  I never knew such a thing existed till I read some of these lunatics post thrash. What's the point?

when am i tribal  i am half igbo half kanuri,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,my name is Alhaji Abdulharem Uche ciroma so why do you call me tribal to my own people ,,,all i do is correct them so they just use there brains and not use "we igbos will defend ourselves even if we are wrong"  i am igbo but i will not defend my people if they do something wrong unlike some posters here

lagbaja20:

Your people will never be relevant in Nigeria.
You call Yoruba Lazy? How did we become so powerful in nigeria?

that is very good,,,,

i hear some people say yorubas are lazy but that is far from the truth,,,without the yorubas/igbos nigeria will just be like sudan or even worse,,,,,,i know this because i have been to lagos, abuja, port harcount, ibadan, anambra,, borno state and i have seen thing ,, but also we northerners protect the country so you have to give us that,,,,,,,,,,c'mon

alj harem1:

 i am half igbo half kanuri,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,my name is Alhaji Abdulharem  ;Dciroma so why do you call me tribal to my own people ,,,all i do is correct them so they just use there brains and not use "we igbos will defend ourselves even if we are wrong"  i am igbo but i will not defend my people if they do something wrong unlike some posters here

Idiot Modinga

What do you call that?

lagbaja20:

Your people will never be relevant in Nigeria.
You call Yoruba Lazy? How did we become so powerful in nigeria?

Think before you type, Oloshi! oloriburuku.

You will die before your parents!
Amen!

This shows that you're an animal. I shall not engage in arguments with you henceforth.

Mobinga:

This shows that you're an animal. I shall not engage in arguments with you henceforth.

gbam you have said it all. He is an animal

Ymodulus:

gbam you have said it all. He is an animal

A thinking animal!

Mobinga:

This shows that you're an animal. I shall not engage in arguments with you henceforth.

Thats what is called 'hitting the nail on the head'  . i wonder why that lagbaja guy said that. well, i guess its the way some pips was raised. lol

Pornodude:

Thats what is called 'hitting the nail on the head'  . i wonder why that lagbaja guy said that. well, i guess its the way some pips was raised. lol

Coming from a 'pornodude'

lagbaja20:

Coming from a 'pornodude'

thats right rabbit. its me, the one and only. PORNODUDE (LOVING IT AND DAMN PROUD TO BE ONE)