In the LEADERSHIP of June 7, 2008, Sam Nda- Isaiah in “Umaru’s opening to make history” praised President Umaru Yar’Adua for his offensive in the creeks of the Niger Delta saying; ‘This was something he should have done much earlier’, and added, “this might be another defining issue for the president, and he alone can determine his legacy in this respect”

What “legacy”? Over the past two years there has been a worrying increase in armed attacks by militants on oil facilities and kidnappings of oil workers and ordinary Nigerians in the Niger Delta. This has led to a marked increase in the militarization of and general insecurity in, the Delta and on May 2009, the Nigerian military launched a major military offensive against militants in the creeks of Delta State.

In the ensuing “operation cordon and search”, there were widespread loss of lives, property damage and the displacement of residents. Amid the claims and counter-claims by the military authorities and the militants; on the basis of the reported killings, enormous dislocation of the social lives of helpless villagers and destruction of properties, and viewed from all dimensions, what is happening in the Niger Delta is a national tragedy.

Deaths are simply counted in dozens and displaced persons in thousands. Photographs of hapless children and old men and women who have been displaced, rotting corpses and destroyed houses filled the news. Defenceless folks are fleeing the spots where soldiers are battling it out with militants. Evidently helpless and largely innocent people as always bear the brunt of the crisis.

For clarity, the government has the responsibility for security in all parts of the country. And no sane person can justify the activities of criminals who kidnap persons, vandalise pipelines and steal oil. 

Truth is; the criminals operating in the Niger Delta have distorted the legitimate struggle of the people for justice and equity in the administration of the revenues from oil for which Ken Saro Wiwa was murdered. The activities of the criminals should be separated from the justifiable protest against the neglect, poverty and underdevelopment of the region. However, security and law enforcement forces should be able to deal with criminals without wreaking havoc and destroying whole communities.

Nda-Isaiah asserted that the Yar’Adua government behaved very irresponsibly by initially treating the thugs and rascals in the Niger Delta like statesmen. The government allowed Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to operate a mini sovereign state in the region. Amidst the frightening poverty in the creeks, Tompolo reportedly lived there like a king and ‘operated something that was truly sovereignty within the Nigerian state’.

But there were other areas in which Yar’Adua behaved in a far more irresponsible manner; His administration failed to address the worsening situation in the Niger Delta. His offer of amnesty to militants, military offensives, and the creation of a Niger Delta ministry-utterly failed to address the root causes of the violence: endemic corruption by government officials, the resulting lack of development in the region, and the sponsorship of violence by government officials.

Many of the armed groups’ active today gained their experience and power as hired guns for ruling party politicians. Since at least 2003, politicians and government officials have used armed gangs to violently rig elections, including the 2007 elections, and to provide security for illegal oil "bunkering" operations. The July and August 2007 violence in Port Harcourt, for example, was carried out by armed gangs competing for access to illegal patronage doled out by government officials.

The Vanguard reported that some retired generals have been fingered in the escalating theft of crude oil and the perpetuation of the air of insecurity in the Niger Delta. On Monday March 30, 2009, Major - General Sarikin Y. Bello, the commander of the Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta said the task force will go after retired military Generals and other military officers involved in oil bunkering in the Niger-Delta with a view to bringing them to book but nothing happened.

Yar‘Adua cannot claim ignorance of the fact that the unending fuel bunkering and sponsored crisis in the Niger Delta is the handiwork of a cartel operating in the nation’s oil sector, Although his administration has ratcheted up military pressure on militant leaders in the Niger Delta, he has remained unwilling to apprehend and bring to justice the state agents, such as former Rivers State governor Peter Odili, who have armed and mobilized criminal gangs in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, the Yar’Adua administration has failed to take effective steps to address the endemic corruption that sustains the ongoing poverty and aggravates political discontent in the Delta, as the oil wealth is squandered and embezzled by ruling party politicians.

According the Human Rights Watch, “The four leading oil producing states in the Niger Delta received 38 percent of state government allocations in 2008, while the remaining 32 states in Nigeria-which account for 88 percent of Nigeria's population-shared 62 percent of the allocations. In Rivers State, for example, the state government's US$3 billion annual budget last year far exceeded the entire central government budgets for most individual West African nations”. Yet there is shockingly little in these Niger Delta states to show for all this wealth. Abject poverty there remains among the worst in the world.

As Nda-Isaiah himself admitted, some state governors in the Niger Delta dutifully hand over a chunk of their monthly allocations to the militants, and when a governor like Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State refused to be part of the disgrace the militants declared war on him.

According to LEADERSHIP, the governor of Bayelsa State recently publicly acknowledged the amount of money he dished out to militants monthly and actually complained that, in spite of that, the militants had refused to keep their own side of the deal. That is the level to which governance in Nigeria has degenerated under Umaru's watch.

Now the military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) last week claimed to have unearthed some incriminating documents linking some governors, top politicians in Delta State and even senior bank officials to the activities of Tom Polo when it stormed Camp 5, the operational base of the militants. According to reports, the list includes names of some of the militants' sponsors, minutes of meetings held and account details of the bunkering money paid to prominent chiefs and politicians.

Rather than releasing the names of the sponsors of the militants, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua organised a meeting with South-South governors and the leaders of the National Assembly to present to the South-South governors reports from different security agencies that allegedly link some of them to the criminal activities of the militants operating in the Niger Delta.

Why? So that “Yar'Adua would ask a particular governor to explain all he knows about his political and business dealings with militant leader Tom Polo, who is believed to have introduced and orchestrated a criminal dimension to the Niger Delta question in the last few years”. Are you laughing?

Why must Yar’Adua have the meetings first before making the names of the ‘real criminals’ public? Attempt at concealment? Does he need the permission of these real criminals - some of whom are accessories to the oil bunkering, kidnappings, election rigging, treasury looting - before releasing the names? So, then, will he bow to their wishes, if some of these governors plead with him not to make the names public? Is this another political mago-mago, attempt at blackmail?

There is a very simple reason for this meeting; there is no way the presidency and top security chiefs could distance themselves from the activities of the militants. According to reports, the list as scrutinised by security chiefs shows that there was no way some persons, including present and past governors could absolve themselves.

According to sources, "It was the same Federal Government and oil companies that awarded over N6.7 billion pipeline contracts to Tom Polo, all in an attempt to maintain peace in the Niger Delta”. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Peter Odili – all had at one time or the other gone to "Aso Rock", the seat of power among the terrorists in the creeks, to pay homage.

It is irresponsible of LEADERSHIP and Sam Nda-Isaiah to write so vehemently against the declaration of ceasefire in the creeks to give room for some of the criminals to seek amnesty and bring the destruction and displacement of innocent civilians to an end. The fallen soldiers were Nigerians just like the killed militants and thousands of other civilians killed, maimed or dislocated. What callous insensitivity!

Nda-Isaiah wrote: “The president needs to know he is also on trial here. And if he eventually listens to some of the characters around him who are currently urging him to order a stop to the operation in the creeks, then he would have finally confirmed that Nigeria has indeed been taken over by rogues”. To him therefore, the JTF must be allowed to finish the job totally “just like the Sri Lankan government” committed genocide against the Tamils and massacred the Tamil Tigers in a war that lasted 26 years, and “Angolan armed forces killed Jonas Savimbi” in a long debilitating civil war. Wow! Is Sam Nda-Isaiah a Nigerian?

The scale of the present military operations shows that Yar’Adua urgently wants to bring the debilitating effect of the Niger delta insurgency to an end. We must quickly add however, that there are other areas in which government should also show a sense of urgency.

Yar’Adua should not stop at flushing out militants out of Camp Five and Iroko Camp, he should move swiftly to implement policies that would flush out inequity, poverty, and underdevelopment in the region. The government should immediately respond to the humanitarian consequences of the operations in the Delta creeks and take immediate steps to protect the fundamental human rights of Niger Delta residents and to address the root causes of the violence:

I support the HRW call for Yar’Adua to ensure that civilian life and property are respected during military operations in the Niger Delta and allow humanitarian agencies full access to the affected areas.

He should Investigate, arrest, and prosecute according to international fair trial standards state and local government officials in the Niger Delta who are responsible for embezzling public funds.

Finally, he should launch an independent inquiry to establish the links between government officials-including former Rivers State governor Peter Odili- for criminal activities in the Niger Delta such as oil "bunkering" and the sponsorship of criminal gangs and prosecute those found implicated in arming and sponsoring criminal gangs.

afamefuna@elombah.com

www.elombah.com

Robot  # 1 | 09.06.2009 06:58

In the LEADERSHIP of June 7, 2008, Sam Nda- Isaiah in “Umaru’s opening to make history” praised President Umaru Yar’Adua for his offensive in the creeks of the Niger Delta saying; ‘This was something he should have done much earlier’, and added, “this might be another defining issue for the president, and he alone can determine his legacy in this respect” What “legacy”? Over the past two years there has been a worrying increase in armed attacks by militants on oil facilities and kidnappings of oil workers and ordinary Nigerians in the Niger Delta. This has led to a marked increase in the militarization of and general insecurity in, the Delta and on May 2009, the Nigerian military launched a major military offensive against militants in the creeks of Delta State. In the ensuing “operation cordon and search”, there were widespread loss of lives, property damage and the displacement of residents. Amid the claims and counter-claims by the military authorities ...Read the full article.

kalu31  # 2 | 09.06.2009 10:30

calm dowm calm down Abuja based Leadership newspapers was shut down last year by the SSS under orders by Yaddy, so this is an opportunity for them to play the court jester and get back into the good books of Yaddy, its business, nothing personal. i am still waiting for this list, we hear there is a long list of backers etc where is it? all na gist ooh where is the list of N2.8 billion? where is the list of Halliburton? where is the list of fuel sabouters? where is the list of NIPP $16 BILLION beneficiaries? if those list have not suffaced, its this list that will sufface abi? after the list what next, they will be handed over to EFCC abi? so they can "plea bargin" and walk abi? listin no ship can leave the creeks with oil without the Nigerian Army and Navy knowledge and say so, so is the Nigerian Army and Navy on that list? see how well fed the JTF commander looks, we are chasing shadows, lets do a Marshall Plan in the Delta, revert back to Fiscal Federlism (you chop what you kill) and see if there will still be militancy. Odili is living pretty in Abuja ooh with is pepetual injuction. yesterday it was Odi, today it is Gbaramatu tomorow nko? it might be your town.

Simbili  # 3 | 09.06.2009 15:47

Over the past two years there has been a worrying increase in armed attacks by militants on oil facilities and kidnappings of oil workers and ordinary Nigerians in the Niger Delta. This has led to a marked increase in the militarization of and general insecurity in, the Delta and on May 2009, the Nigerian military launched a major military offensive against militants in the creeks of Delta State. Please go and find gainful employment and remove your longer throat from the proceeds of oil. Does Nigeria look like a country that produces oil? Who told you MEND is responsible for kidnapping the ordinary Nigerian citizens? You have kidnappers all over Nigeria as a result of the failures manifesting on all fronts. Please educate yourself. Anarchy has set in. http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/6/302.html Deadly kidnappers besiege South East Written by Tony Edike Saturday, June 6, 2009 ...Wealthy Igbos go on ‘exile’ The police fingered the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) as perpetrators of the kidnap, but unknown to all, the unholy practice was becoming a more lucrative business than buying and selling for which Ndigbo are noted. Since that first incident, cases of kidnapping became rampant in the South Eastern States. While the people of the region are highly disturbed, the law enforcement agencies especially the police, appear to have lost out in the battle against the criminal act. Is this MEND? http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-k1v-hAXeOoYdyhNyOi1bOYZp9g Canadian exchange student 'kidnapped' in Nigeria Apr 18, 2009 KANO, Nigeria (AFP) — Nigerian police said Saturday that a Canadian university exchange student had been "kidnapped", amid reports a ransom had been demanded for her release. The woman, one of five Canadian university undergraduates on the student exchange programme, was abducted on Thursday in the northern city of Kaduna, police said. Are these militants too? Or almajiris have started kidnapping people for ransom too? http://www.tribune.com.ng/02022009/tue/crime1.html We prefer to kidnap during church service Olalekan Olabulo, Lagos - updated: Tuesday 27-01-2009 THE police in Lagos State are on the trail of a suspected kidnapper, Benjamen who, in company of two others who are now in the custody of the state police command, kidnapped a four-year-old boy inside the premises of a pentecostal church at Okota area of the state. The kidnappers, while committing the act had posed to be part of the congregation that came to worship at the church. Benjamen and his two friends, John Akinsola and Segun Akano, had the 14th of December in Lagos perfected a plan to kidnap a young boy, Ebuka Phillips and were almost smiling to the bank with the 20 million naira ransom demanded from the hapless boy’s parents when men of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Bureau swung into action and arrested them at a hideout in Shangisha, a suburb in the state. The "Ogbonge" holy-holy Go-Daddy Adeboye kidnappers operating around church premises. The kidnapping business exists in the western and northern parts of Nigeria, but your long throat for oil has kept you forever blind. The reason I want the oil refineries to be blown up so we can see if all the youths will not turn into worse militants. Oil would soon dry up and you would have your own kidnappers/militants from the west and the north even worse than MEND or MASSOB. Finally, he should launch an independent inquiry to establish the links between government officials-including former Rivers State governor Peter Odili- for criminal activities in the Niger Delta such as oil "bunkering" and the sponsorship of criminal gangs and prosecute those found implicated in arming and sponsoring criminal gangs. You have not finished Ibori's case, and you are mentioning Odili? By the way, what happened to Igbinedion's case? Keep dreaming. That oil money put Yaradua in power. So let him not bite the fingers that fed him.

Simbili  # 4 | 11.06.2009 08:33

Kidnappers in Ekiti State. I wonder if they are militants too. http://www.ukpakareports.com/UreportsEkitiPDPACwar.html Ekiti rerun poll: PDP tasks police on arson, violence cases Last Updated: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:58 AM http://www.ukpakareports.com/ekitivoodoo.jpg just wondering what all that 'jazz' is around the waists of 2 of those 'accused' persons. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has called on the police to conduct thorough investigations into the various acts of violence perpetrated before, during and after the rerun governorship election held in the State, adding that failure of the police to apprehend masterminds of the criminal acts was responsible for the kidnapping and other crimes being witnessed in the State. The PDP in a statement signed by the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Segun Oni Campaign Organization (SOCO) said the opposition Action Congress (AC), its governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and former Governor Ayodele Fayose should be blamed for the criminal acts being carried out in the State, adding that the militants imported into the State by Fayemi and Fayose have resorted into kidnapping of law-abiding residents of Ekiti State because they no longer have jobs to do. It called for the immediate arrest of the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saliu Adeoti who allegedly led thugs to burn the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Ido/Osi Local Government, saying; “failure of the police to arrest the deputy speaker and his accomplices is capable of derailing democracy in the country.” While accusing the AC of double standard, Adeyeye said; “the same AC people who instigated Hon. Adeoti to storm the collation centre of INEC at Ido Ekiti and set it ablaze have turned round to allege that the results of the voting were not collated at INEC office, which they had set ablaze. Up till now, the former Acting Speaker has been on the run after being declared wanted by the police over the burning of the INEC office.” Adeyeye called on the police and other security agencies in the country to arrest and prosecute those who masterminded violent acts before, during and after the election so as to serve as deterrent to others. “People are now being kidnapped in Ekiti State and ransoms are being demanded. This is strange and the AC people and Fayose should be blamed for this state of insecurity because they were the ones who out of desperation to win elections at all cost imported militants, arms and ammunitions into the State. “The AC people were the ones who masterminded and carried out the burning of INEC offices in Ido/Osi, Ijero and Ikere Local Government Areas of the State. It was in the houses of their leaders at Isan, Aiyede, Ise, Are and others that gun-wielding militants were arrested before and during the election and until perpetrators of these heinous crimes are made to face the full wrath of the law, people would continue to see crime as a way of life. “The question the police and other security agents in the country must answer is why it has been impossible for them to arrest the Deputy Speaker and his thugs for their alleged involvement in the burning of INEC office at Ido Ekiti? “The police and other security agencies in the country must be alive to their responsibilities this time around if Nigerians must continue to have confidence in their ability to protect their lives and properties. This is because from what has been happening in the State since the rerun election concluded, the thugs armed by the AC are still in the State, having no other source of livelihood other than armed robbery and kidnapping. “The security agencies must therefore revisit the issue of importation of militants, arms and ammunitions into the State by some desperate politicians before the rerun election with a view to bringing those found culpable before the law. “It is also our plea to Fayemi and Fayose to in the name of God pay their militants and evacuate them from Ekiti so that the people can live in peace.” Publisher - 516 451 0632 If the policemen have failed, why doesn't PDP send an SOS to the JTF for some assistance. Umaru should be notified as soon as possible. No oil?

Simbili  # 5 | 11.06.2009 15:59

JTF please help. http://www.pointblanknews.com/os1821.html Date Published: 06/07/09 Investors flee Anambra as armed robbers, kidnappers take over. In a commando-style operation, no less than 20 armed men Friday afternoon in Awka, capital of Anambra State kidnapped millionaire businessman and chairman of Pokobros Group of Companies, Chief Paul Okonkwo, heightening the spectre of violence which has become the lot of the state since the beginning of the year. Okonkwo’s abduction came less than 24 hours after the wife of a prominent politician in the state and former governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Nwokoye was kidnapped in the same Awka, and four days after dare-devil armed robbers swooped on Nnewi, killing at least eight persons after serially robbing a chain of banks. And penultimate Monday in Umuawulu, a few kilometers from Awka, suspected assailants had chased a former chairman of Awka South council, Chief Chukwudi Okafor, into the local Catholic Church before emptying over six magazines of bullets on the politician. He died instantly. advertisement The upsurge in violent crimes in Anambra State, particularly kidnappings, has forced several residents of the state which reportedly has the most number of millionaires in Nigeria, to relocate their families. For many families, Asaba, the capital of Delta State, is said to be the destination of choice, for now. Eyewitnesses told Pointblannews.com that about 4 pm, a band of fully armed youngsters in SUVs had trailed Okonkwo from his Pokobros Hotel on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway and blocked his jeep on the same expressway. “They literarily plucked him out of his jeep into theirs before speeding off through Zik (Nnamdi Aziiwe) Avenue. When they encountered some traffic snarl, these boys opened fire causing serious confusion as people scampered for safety. Funny enough, they passed the state Police secretariat, the Prisons headquarters unchallenged before heading for the road to Agulu,” offered an eyewitness. Sources close to the multi-millionaire politician and businessman, Nwokoye, told Pointblanknews.com that the wife of the businessman, who was in Italy to inspect a consignment of sanitary wares, was abducted as she made to drive into her mansion. “Two boys were sighted loitering, but they didn’t look sinister. As soon as madam drove in, they rushed into the compound, gun in hand, and ordered her into their car which they had cleverly concealed near our gate. Oga is on his way back to negotiate with the kidnappers so that he can, at least, have his wife back,” the source narrated. A very successful clearing and forwarding agent, Chuwudi Okafor, who had fallen out with Governor Peter Obi, had hinted close associates that he was set to dump Obi’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Amuluonyenaego (Chukwudi) had approached on the eve of his death that he was interested in the Awka Federal Constituency seat, and that he was set to declare for PDP. I encouraged him to go and register in his ward, and he agreed. We agreed to see again the next weekend. That was the last we saw,” lamented a PDP chieftain. With the police have yet to make any arrests on Chukwu’s assassination, pressure is said to be mounting on Governor Obi to come out clean on the matter. “We strongly believe that Amuluonyenaego is a victim of state-sponsored terrorism. How come he was killed after falling out with Peter (Obi), and just days before declaring for PDP?” quizzed a PDP chieftain. And in Isuofia, Okonkwo’s village, accusing fingers are said to be pointing the way of a former Governor of the Central Bank, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. The former bank chief has for years been locked in a battle for supremacy with Okonkwo, culminating in Soludo balkanizing the town and rechristening his own part Isu Anioma. Okonkwo remained Oji (Prime Minister of) Isuofia. So worrying is the frequency and ease of robberies and kidnapping to the people of the state that a legislator from the state told Pointblanknews.com that “most of us have found out that it is cheaper to relocate your aged parents and children than to pay ransoms.” He lamented that the Peter Obi administration appeared confused whilst the security situation in Anambra state spirals out of control. He claimed that there have been at least 60 high profile kidnappings in the state since the beginning of 2009. “Peter Obi is busing fighting his deputy and her son, Emeka. He is trying to maintain a false mien that all is well, when most of his aides are disorientated and resigning in droves. Armed robbery has peaked, and we now top the chart in kidnapping, a hitherto unknown phenomenon. If nothing urgent is done to nip this trend, I fear Anambra may become worse than Mexico or Colombia,” he declared.

Simbili  # 6 | 11.06.2009 16:20

http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/18032009/news/news2.html ... As kidnapped MD of God Is Good Motors is found dead By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON BENIN CITY ––The Managing Director (MD) of “God is Good Motors” reportedly abducted last Sunday morning in Benin City has been found dead in Ekiadolor village, near Benin. The multi-millionaire transporter whose corpse was recovered yesterday morning by men of Ekiadolor Police Station, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER reliably gathered, was tortured to death as his legs, hands and neck were tied together. Though the gunmen who had earlier demanded N110 million ransom from his family, it was further learnt, later received N60 million, yet, why they went ahead to murder their victim remained a sad question begging for answer. More Kidnappings all over Nigeria. Where is JTF when you need them?

Simbili  # 7 | 11.06.2009 16:24

http://www.tribune.com.ng/10062009/news/news17.html 3 kids kidnapped in A/Ibom - Monarch killed, another kidnapped in Abia From Tony Ukpong and Biola Azeez - 10.06.2009 Kidnappers on Tuesday on Nwaniba Road and Ben Udo Street caused a stir when they took away three kids who were on their way to school. Eyewitnesses said the pupils were in a Landcruiser jeep with their mother when the incident happened around 7.30 a.m. It was gathered that the kidnappers had trailed the jeep, targeting the children in particular. They unleashed terror on the whole area as they shot sporadically, causing road users to scamper for safety. Nigerian Tribune learnt further that the children and their mother were members of the family of a politician in the state. Meanwhile, any traditional ruler in whose community kidnapping or other crimes are perpetrated will be dethroned and arrested in Abia State, just as a traditional ruler was kidnapped and another killed on Aba-Enugu expressway on Monday. Speaking when he met with traditional rulers in the state, Governor Theodore Orji said security report in his office had indicted many traditional rulers in the state. No more expatriates to kidnap for ransom. Nigerians are now kidnapping Nigerians as a source of employment. Signs of the end times.

Simbili  # 8 | 11.06.2009 16:32

http://www.naijafeed.com/naijafeed/2009/5/27/nigerian-priest-kidnaps-woman-and-demands-n4m-ransom.html Nigerian priest kidnaps woman and demands N4m ransom Date Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 9:19PM It’s getting so bad these days that even a man of the cloth has gotten into the kidnapping business. The catholic priest was arrested by the Nsukka Divisional Police in Nigeria and transferred to the state Anti-robbery squad for further confession investigation. It’s reported that Chief Reminus Okenyi, the husband of the woman kidnapped contacted the police when he noticed his wife’s car unattended to with her cell phone and bag still in the car. He then received a call from a person asking if he had any problem with the priest (priest name withheld) then demanded N4 million ($27,080) for the release of his wife. After promising the caller that he’ll get the money, the good Chief did the right thing and contacted the police instead. After two days of searching for the priest. He was finally arrested when he stopped by the police station to drop a petition for the Inspector-General of Police. The police were able to get a confession from the priest (the irony) to the crime and he also provided information that led to the safe rescue of the kidnapped woman. Even a Catholic Priest can become a kidnapper. Blame MEND!

Simbili  # 9 | 12.06.2009 14:17

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/11/409.html Anambra police arrest 20 robbery suspects, abductors of expatriates By Okey Maduforo, Correspondent, Awka Anambra State police command on Wednesday reaffirmed its stand that the state is not at the mercy of armed bandits when it arrested abductors of two Chinese expatriates and 20 suspected armed robbers. Two Chinese citizens were abducted in 2007 while on attachment with Innoson Group of Companies Limited at Nnewi and the police managed to rescue one alive while the other died mysteriously. Already the state police command has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria on the recent development and also informed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the arrest. The gang leader was also alleged to have been involved in the abduction of Anthony Elukeme, chief executive officer of Tonimax Petroleum Nigerian Limited. Welcome to "Baghdad", Nigeria!

Simbili  # 10 | 14.06.2009 11:59

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/12/32.html SSS arrest three suspected student kidnappers in Imo From Charles Ogugbuaja (Owerri) and Chuks Collins (Awka) OFFICIALS of the State Security Service (SSS) in Imo State on Wednesday paraded three suspected kidnappers who were apprehended by its operatives. Parading the suspects before journalists in his office in Owerri, the Director of SSS in the state, Mr. Abudu Salami, said the suspects - Chibike Theodore Diala, Emmanuel Chinonso Ikedinibi and Chukwudi Ikedinobi - who claimed to be students of Imo State University, were arrested at Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri. He disclosed that the suspects had on May 28, allegedly kidnapped a pre-degree student of Imo State University and held him hostage in a village, Umuerem, Mbaitoli Local Council of the state. He said that their victim miraculously escaped, which led to their manhunt. The suspects then ran to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before returning to Owerri, where they have been spending their loot.

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