Crime
Kidnapping epidemic: Fundraising for ransom persists, Ekiti pupils’ families pay N15m
Despite warnings by the Federal Government against crowd-funding for ransoms, the practice has continued to gain ground with the abductees and their families raising funds from relatives, friends, and social media to secure the release of kidnapped victims.
Ekiti Gov visits released pupils, teachers
Families of abductees said on Sunday that they disregarded the government’s warning because they feared the victims might be killed or harmed if they failed to pay the ransom.
In Ekiti State, pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, who were abducted last week, regained their freedom in the early hours of Sunday.
Some parents and other relatives of the victims said the kidnappers freed the abductees after collecting N15m and other items including fried rice, malt drinks, energy drinks, and cigarettes.
Although the Proprietor of the school, Gabriel Adesanya, confirmed to one of our correspondents that a ransom was paid, he did not specify the actual amount paid.
In reaction to the wave of abductions in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, and many other states, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, had a few weeks ago warned relatives of kidnapped victims against engaging in crowd-funding and paying ransom to kidnappers.
The minister, who spoke after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, admitted that the kidnapping was high within the Federal Capital Territory area councils.
Reacting to the issue of crowd-funding to pay ransom, Badaru said, “We all know that there is an existing law against the payment of ransom. So, it is very sad for people to go over the internet and radio asking for donations to pay ransom.’’
The Nigeria Police Force had similarly admonished Nigerians against crowd-funding for ransom, especially on social media.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, in a post via his official X handle on January 2, described it as criminal and warned Nigerians against the practice.
“Crowd-funding for ransom payment is criminal. It’s dangerous and should not be encouraged. Let’s stop making kidnapping a thriving and lucrative business in Nigeria. This tweet is deeper than you think. It’s not about dragging me or the police. We seriously need to discourage this,” Edafe posted.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, also said the practice undermined security and contributed to the abduction spree in the country.
In an interview with Channels TV on February 1, Adejobi pointed out that ransom payment was a crime in Nigeria.
“It got to a stage where somebody did crowd-funding on social media; this will not help us in any way. It is criminal. It is not allowed. It is condemned. Even the Federal Government condemned it. Crowd-funding is not allowed,” he said.
Families justify payment
However, the families of abductees justified the act, stating that they paid ransoms to secure the lives of their loved ones.
Confirming that he raised funds through crowd-funding to secure his release, a kidnapped victim in Zamfara State who gave his name as Mohammed Shehu, told The PUNCH on Sunday that he was asked by bandits to pay N20m ransom but the amount was later reduced to N10m.
Shehu, an indigene of Magami town of the Gusau Local Government Area in Zamfara State, said he sold his house and other valuables but could only raise N5.3m, adding that his family and friends had to look for the remaining balance of N4.7m to get his freedom.
According to him, his family members and other people had to contribute to make sure that the amount was paid, as the bandits gave a seven-day ultimatum.
He said, “When I was kidnapped on the Gusau-Sokoto road and taken to the forest, the bandits leader reached out to my family and told them to pay N20m as ransom. However, after the negotiation, the amount was reduced to N10m.
“I told the family to sell off my house and other things so that they could raise the amount and pay because I was being punished by the kidnappers. After the sale of my house and other valuables, the sum of N5.3m was realised and taken to the bandits, but they insisted that the balance of N4.7m must be paid or they would kill me.
“My family members had to go begging to get the money and that was how I was released by the bandits.”
Many Katsina victims and their families explained how ransoms were raised to get their freedom from kidnappers.
They revealed that families, friends, colleagues, and top government officials contributed to raising the ransoms demanded by their captors before they were released.
Colleagues raise funds
A retired top official of the National Broadcast Commission said members of his family, the traditional ruler in his area as well as colleagues contributed the ransom that was paid to his captors to ensure his release and that of his daughter.
The retired officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Bandits kidnapped my daughter and me a few months ago. Members of my family, the traditional ruler of my community, friends, and colleagues contributed the ransom that was paid to ensure our release.”
Kidnapped victims in Delta State narrated how money was raised by their relatives, friends, and church members to pay the ransom.
A friend of a kidnapped victim in the Bonsaac area of Asaba, the Delta State capital, who did not want his name in print, told one of our correspondents that he was able to mobilise other friends to contribute money for his release.
He said, “I was actually at the man (victim)’s shop when I received a call that my friend was kidnapped. And immediately, I left the shop so that his wife would not find out what was going on. Then I moved to a barber’s shop to continue the negotiation with the kidnappers.
“After a while, they called the man’s wife and that’s how the woman got to know and she started looking for me, and I later told her that I left their shop because of the news.
“We started negotiating with them from N5m to N1m. All of us, both friends and relatives contributed to raising the ransom which I took to Nkwere-ezunnka in Anambra State before he was released.”
Wilson said, “I remember that after we were released, my mom told me she had to contact her siblings, friends, and church members for help. Some of my cousins raised the alarm on social media, particularly Facebook, and to their contact lists on WhatsApp, asking friends to help raise the money. My mom even had to sell the generator.’’
“I do not know if I support the law or not. But you know Nigeria, you can’t be sure that the police will take you seriously even if you report it. I mean, while they are investigating, your loved one could be dying, if not dead.
“Try explaining the illegality of crowd-funding to someone who probably lost more than one loved one is difficult, sometimes even after paying a heavy ransom. Anybody would do anything to save his or her family,” he stressed.
Abbas Al-Kadriyar, an uncle to the five Al-Kadriyar girls, whose kidnap had led to a nationwide outcry against kidnappings in the country, stated that “everybody contributed to securing the release of my nieces while they were in captivity.’’
He added that the government should ensure the security of lives and property, if it wanted to curb crowd-funding for ransom, noting the threats that were made against his family while they were in captivity.
“The family did their own. Our own (fund) could not sustain us, so the public helped. Everybody, all Nigerians was involved, including Christians, Muslims, religious organisations, individuals, friends, and family. Everybody contributed,” he revealed.
Speaking further, Al-Kadriyar added, “If I am losing a family, if any of us is losing their family members, and you are being asked to bring ransom, are you going to bring it or not? If the lives and properties of citizens are well taken care of, nobody will go and be paying a ransom.
“We were on the verge of losing our family members; the threat was there that they were going to be killed. We were asked to bring money, they gave us an ultimatum, and there was a threat that if we did not bring it, they would drop (kill) one each day.
“So, yes, the law is there, let it take its course. But before the law saves us, are our lives safe? That is the primary objective of the government, the security of lives and property. If it is well secured, then there will be no need for anybody to even go after kidnapping or asking for ransom,” he reasoned.
In Ekiti State, one of the parents of the kidnapped victims, Adebisi Jegede, confirmed that ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
Five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff members were kidnapped on January 29 on Emuro-Eporo road after closing hours.
Jegede, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said, “A ransom was paid to the kidnappers and the money raised was around the N15m they demanded. I was not the one that counted the money but it was around that amount.”
Also, a man, whose wife and son were among the kidnapped persons, said that N15m ransom and some other items were handed over to the kidnappers in an expansive forest before the abductees were released to them.
The man, who spoke anonymously for fear of being abducted, said, “Nine persons were kidnapped. But eight persons were released, we didn’t see the ninth person. The kidnapped persons told us after their release that the gunmen shot the driver dead.
“It gave us a lot of problems to see the kidnappers. When we first entered the forest, we spent about two hours without seeing them. We had to go forth and back before we saw the kidnappers.
“When we eventually saw them, they took us into the bush far away from where we parked the motorcycle that we took there. We gave them what they demanded and they released the kidnapped persons to us.
“We gave them N15m and the food items they asked us to buy for them – eight packs of fried rice with chicken and drinks – can malt drink, fearless energy drink, bullet energy drink, cigarettes, and other drinkable things. As they collected the money and the items, they said we should run.”
Slain Kwara monarch
In Kwara State, the families of the slain Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, are in panic mode following the N40m ransom demanded by the abductors of the monarch’s widow.
The royal father was assassinated by suspected gunmen in his palace in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Thursday night while his wife and another lady were abducted.
The gunmen had reached out to the monarch’s family for payment of N100m which was reduced to N40m.
A usually reliable security source, who does not want his name in print told The PUNCH on Sunday that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing.
Another suspect was also apprehended on Sunday in Eruku and was found with foreign currency.
“Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of Koro-Ekiti monarch. The Inspector-General of Police has deployed a special anti-terrorist team to comb Ekiti forests while a detachment of Nigerian Army has also been deployed to Koro to search for the two kidnapped victims,” the source said.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Adetoun, however, claimed no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.
But the chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee in Ekiti LGA, Chief Kehinde Bayode, confirmed that a suspect was apprehended in Eruku on Sunday.
He said, “The arrested suspect was found with foreign currency and I had got in touch with the Divisional Police Officer in the area not to release the suspect.”
Bayode, while speaking on efforts made to free the abducted wife of the monarch and the lady held with her, said “The kidnappers had got in touch with the family demanding N100m ransom which has now been reduced to N40m.
“We are still negotiating with them and right now, I’m on my way to Koro to get the latest information on the negotiation. We will continue to brief you as the situation unfolds and we will keep you posted.”
PUNCH
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Violent Crime Response Unit of the Anambra State Police Command has uncovered and destroyed an armoury belonging to suspected separatist gunmen at Owerre-Ezukala in Orumba South Local Government Area.
The operation, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Orebe Chidubem Matthew, followed intelligence obtained from a member of the gang currently in police custody.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police disclosed that the camp had previously been dislodged by a Joint Task Force on security operations. However, some members of the gang who escaped during the earlier raid reportedly regrouped and attempted to resume operations.
According to the statement, items recovered from the armoury include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 locally-made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one locally-made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, 10 rounds of K2 live ammunition, one gas cylinder, and one black Ecolac box.
“Recall that the camp was earlier destroyed by a Joint Security Team. Before the confession by the suspect in custody, intelligence had been received over time on how some escaped gang members were attempting to regroup. However, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit resisted and dismantled the camp following a gun duel with the unrepentant members,” the statement read.
The police further stated that some of the armed suspects fled the scene with varying degrees of bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect in custody confessed to involvement in several violent attacks across Anambra State, including attacks on police facilities, the killing of security personnel comprising police, military, and civil defence officers, attacks on government facilities, and the murder of security operatives on stop-and-search duties on various roads in the state.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, noted that with the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit, operatives of the command are now better positioned and more motivated to sustain offensive operations against criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the state.
The Enugu State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate suspension of the salary of Dr. Kate Okolo, a staff member of the Enugu State College of Education, over her alleged involvement in a controversial land deal.
The directive was issued on Tuesday in Enugu by the Chairman of the House Special Committee on Land Conflicts, Mr. Okey Mbah, as part of an ongoing investigation into a decade-long land fraud.
Mbah emphasized that the suspension is not a witch-hunt but a clear signal that the era of impunity in land administration in the state is over.
The committee, currently probing petitions from staff of the institution and members of the public, accused key figures in the Women in College of Education Organisation (WICE) of engaging in land racketeering and fraudulent sales.
According to petitioners, the scheme—introduced between 2009 and 2011 under the leadership of the late Mrs. Ugoma Ndubisi and Dr. Okolo—encouraged individuals to market plots of land known as “WICE Land” to colleagues, friends, and family members.
One victim, who pleaded anonymity, told lawmakers they invested in the scheme because it was presented as a credible internal arrangement.
“We paid in full and have receipts, but for over 13 years, we have not been allocated any land,” the petitioner said.
Testimonies further revealed that the situation worsened following the death of Mrs. Ndubisi, with allegations that Dr. Okolo altered the original terms of the transactions.
“She changed the name from Ukano to Ukano Bold, increased the prices, reduced plot sizes, and claimed that many of us did not pay.
“We are now being asked to pay again for land we already purchased.
“All we want is either our land or our money back,” another petitioner stated.
In response, Mbah assured the petitioners that the Assembly remains committed to ensuring justice.
“We have listened to your grievances, and this committee will see this matter through to a logical conclusion.
“No one found culpable will be shielded,” he said.
A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abdulsamad Jamiu, has died after being struck by a stray bullet during a gun battle between troops of the Nigerian Army and fleeing armed robbers in Shagari Estate, Dei-Dei, Abuja.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of April 25, 2026, when troops of the Guards Brigade Quick Response Group, on routine night patrol, responded to a distress call over an armed robbery attack in the area.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Sunday, Lieutenant Olawuyi Odunola, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Guards Brigade, said the troops came under gunfire immediately upon arrival, leading to a brief but intense exchange with the suspected robbers.
According to the Army, the corps member was caught in the crossfire during the operation and later died from injuries sustained.
“Headquarters Guards Brigade regrets the tragic loss of Mr Abdulsamad Jamiu, a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, during a security incident in the early hours of 25 April 2026 at Shagari Estate, Dei-Dei, Abuja,” the statement read.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when troops of the Guards Brigade Quick Response Group, on routine night patrol, responded to a distress call following an armed robbery attack in the area. Upon arrival, the troops came under gunfire from the fleeing armed robbers, resulting in a brief but intense exchange.”
The Army explained that despite efforts by the soldiers to secure the area and protect residents, Jamiu sadly succumbed after being hit during the confrontation.
“In the course of the engagement, Mr Jamiu was caught in the crossfire. Despite the efforts of troops to secure the area and preserve lives, he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
“This heartbreaking loss has cast a deep shadow over all personnel of the Guards Brigade,” the statement added.
Military authorities said preliminary findings indicated the situation was highly volatile as troops moved swiftly to repel the attackers and protect residents of the community.
The Commander of the Guards Brigade, alongside officers and soldiers, extended condolences to the deceased’s family, the NYSC, and others affected by the tragedy.
“The Commander, Guards Brigade, officers and soldiers extend their deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the National Youth Service Corps, and all who are affected by this painful loss. We share in their grief and stand in solidarity with them during this moment of profound sorrow,” the Army stated.
The Brigade also disclosed that a full investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, promising transparency and accountability.
“The Brigade has since initiated a thorough investigation to fully ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. We remain committed to transparency and accountability. The findings will be made available in due course,” it added.
The remains of the deceased have been handed over to appropriate civil authorities and deposited at Kubwa General Hospital.
The Guards Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the Federal Capital Territory, stating it would continue reviewing its operational procedures to enhance civilian safety while combating criminal elements.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Concerned citizens of Awka, Anambra State, have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over what they described as alleged arbitrary police interference in a decades-long land dispute involving Chief Kenneth Afamefuna Ezekwesili of Umuike village, Awka.
In the petition, signed by Sunday Ezebunamadu on behalf of the group and addressed to the IGP in Abuja, the residents called on the police leadership to urgently investigate what they termed an “abuse of police powers” in relation to the dispute over Obuagu land, also known as “Egbeana-Obibia Land.”
“We, the concerned citizens of Awka in Anambra State, respectfully bring to your attention a matter of grave concern involving alleged abuse of police powers and arbitrary interference in a long-standing land dispute,” the petition read.
According to the petitioners, the disputed land has been a source of contention between the Obuagu Awka and Umuomamu Ifite Nibo communities since 1974.
They maintained that the matter had already been decided at both the High Court in Awka and the Court of Appeal in Enugu, with judgments reportedly in favour of Obuagu Awka, while the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Despite these judicial outcomes, the group alleged continued police involvement in the matter.
Chief Ezekwesili, as quoted in the petition, claimed he was arrested in February 2026 while accessing the land under what he described as a court-authorised entry.
He further alleged subsequent arrests and an ongoing prosecution before a Magistrate Court in Awka in Suit No. MAW/43C/2026, which he said is still pending.
The petitioners expressed concern over what they described as the repeated use of the phrase “conduct likely to cause communal war” as justification for arrests in a matter already before competent courts.
They also raised concerns over the alleged sale of portions of the disputed land while litigation is ongoing, as well as claims of possible “pecuniary interest influencing police conduct.”
“If these allegations are true, they represent a serious deviation from the constitutional role of the police, which is to maintain peace and not to adjudicate land ownership disputes,” the petition stated.
The group, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the conduct of the officers involved, ensure neutrality in all land disputes before the courts, and halt any further arrests connected to the matter.
They also called on the police leadership to reaffirm clear directives prohibiting interference in civil land disputes, except where there is a genuine breach of peace.
“The people of Awka believe strongly in the rule of law. Allowing court decisions to stand without unlawful interference is essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement and the justice system,” the petition added.
However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Unit of the command stated that it was not aware of the crisis and that no petition had been made available to it.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has released four policemen and a developer, Abiodun Ariori, who were accused of killing six traders in Owode Onirin, in the Kosofe area of the state.
The suspects were freed after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advice indicating that the cops acted in self-defence.
In the legal advice, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, and obtained exclusively by Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the DPP blamed investigators for not providing evidence that could sustain charges of manslaughter.
The victims were shot dead by the policemen, identified as Musa Bala, Ahmed Abass, Ibrahim Kasimu and Ibrahim Garba.
The cops were brought from Nasarawa by Ariori to enforce an alleged court order which gave the rights to the land occupied by the traders to a Lagos family.
Ariori was said to be the family’s agent.
In the course of the enforcement, chaos broke out, and the six traders were shot dead.
The victims were identified as Adeoye Taiwo, Akinloye Seyi, Wale Adebayo, Abraham Idowu, Dare Salaudeen and Adeoye Akeem.
The policemen and the Ariori were then arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lagos State.
However, the matter was transferred to Abuja.
The cops were freed and Ariori granted bail.
It was learnt that after the protests, charges were filed against the suspects.
However, the DPP, in its legal advice dated Tuesday, March 3, said there was no prima facie evidence to justify their prosecution.
According to the Director, Martins, the four police officers were attacked by a mob with weapons during the incident.
Martins noted that one of the officers was injured and dispossessed of his rifle.
He further stated that Ariori was not present at the scene when the incident occurred.
On possible manslaughter charges, the DPP said the police failed to provide forensic evidence necessary to establish the cause of death and link any of the suspects to the killings.
He said there was no autopsy report on the deceased, no ballistic analysis of bullets recovered, and no examination report on the rifles issued to the officers.
“From the available facts in the file, there is no positive evidence to prove that the suspects are responsible for the death of the deceased persons.
“Therefore, this office shall not prosecute Inspr Musa Bala, Inspr Ahmed Abass, Cpl Ibrahim Kasimu, Cpl Ibrahim Garba and Abiodun Akeem Ariori for the offences of felony and involuntary manslaughter contrary to sections 411 and 224 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015 and any charge against them is hereby withdrawn,” Martins stated.
But the police said there was enough evidence to prosecute the suspects.
A letter, dated March 5, 2026, from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, and addressed to the DPP, stated that the police attached relevant evidence to the case file.
The letter was signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, DCP Dayo Akinbisehin.
According to Akinbisehin, autopsy reports from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and ballistic examination findings from the Force Criminal Investigation Department indicated that the suspects were responsible for the death of the traders.
According to the letter, the findings showed that “all the suspects are culpable” and the state had a strong case capable of standing trial.
The deputy police commissioner urged the DPP to review the legal advice and allow the prosecution of the suspects.
“It is evidently clear from the findings in the painstaking investigation carried out by the police that all the suspects, namely: Inspr Manu Bala, Inspr Ahmed Abass, Cpl Ibrahim Kasimu, Cpl Ibrahim Garba and one Abiodun Akeem Ariori, are all culpable and that the state has a good case that can stand the test of trial against them.
“However, the earlier report from the DPP has been taken cognisance of, but the emerging reality from the evidence from the autopsy report and ballistic examination report attached are strong enough for the DPP to take a second look at the advice and allow all the suspects to be prosecuted so that they can indeed have their days in court.
“This will go a long way in entrenching sanctity of the law in the overall interest of justice, public safety, public order and protection of lives and property for which the Nigeria Police is constitutionally charged alongside other enabling laws of the country,” he said.
Reacting to the matter, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, insisted that the case was far from concluded.
Falana, a human rights activist and lawyer to the traders, said his legal team would furnish the required information to the DPP to ensure a full and fair assessment of the case.
He added that a civil suit would also be filed to seek compensation for the families of the deceased.
“I have just been informed that they were freed on the legal advice of the Lagos State Director of Public due to the fact that certain information was not provided. We are going to avail the DPP of the required information.
“The matter of the illegal killing of the six unarmed traders will be pursued to a logical conclusion in the interest of justice. In addition, we are going to file a civil case for adequate compensation on behalf of the families of the deceased,” Falana said.
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