Gunmen abduct Niger deputy gov’s brother, cleric in Kogi
THE Niger State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of the younger brother of Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, Malam Ayuba
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Olusola Emmanuel Amore, who confirmed the incident while briefing newsmen in Minna, said the younger brother of the state’s deputy governor was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Ibeto town in Magama Local Council of the state last Friday.
The CP, who disclosed that the victim had been taken outside the state while the kidnappers were in touch with the family, said the police are working round the clock to rescue the victim and arrest the kidnappers. , adding that the command has deployed special team to Kontagora axis of the state to work with officers and men on ground.
Also, a Catholic faithful of Idah Diocese have been thrown into confusion following the kidnap of Rev. Fr. Innocent Umor of Ikanekpo Parish in Ankpa Local Council of Kogi State.
According to Rev. Fr. Hyacinth in Lokoja yesterday, the kidnappers stormed the parish in a commando style at about 2:00 a.m. on Monday morning with guns and made away with the priest.
The cleric said that after several hours of pandemonium in the parish, the gunmen numbering about five, put a call through the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Anthony Adaji, demanding N4 million ransom.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Mr. Samuel Ogunlusi, who also confirmed the incident, said he got the information from the men on ground and the Bishop of the Diocese.
A close aide to the embattled deputy governor, who did not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident, saying that Ibeto was kidnapped in the family house of the deputy governor in Ibeto town by some heavily armed men numbering about 10.
According to him, the armed kidnappers arrived the Ibeto’s family house in two vehicles, a Golf car and a Hilux Van, saying that shortly after storming the house, they started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the residents of the area before taking their victim away.
He said that the following morning, the kidnappers used the mobile phone of their victim to call his mother, telling her that her son was in their custody and that all they needed was money though they did not mention any specific amount as ransom.
“Ayuba pleaded with his kidnappers the following morning to speak with his aged mother who is sick so that her condition will not get worse. But instead, they used his cell phone line to call her and told her that her son is safe and all they needed was money”, he stated.
He added that the family made frantic effort to call the line back but it remained switched off up to the time this reporter was filling this report.
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1 Comments
We heard about the abduction of our brother, Fr. Innocent. We have placed him in the hands of God and asked people also to pray. We shall also pray for the release of the Deputy Governor’s younger brother and many others who are in captivity. We are in the time of great trial in Nigeria, but there every possible hope and certainty that we shall overcome one day.
We will review and take appropriate action.