Journalists on fangs of kidnappers

Recently, kidnappers have abducted journalists and family members in a new twist of fate from colliding with authorities to falling into the hands of hoodlums.   The hazards of journalism in Nigeria might have shifted from threats from the establishment to abductions of journalists and their family members. The latest was the kidnap of Yahanasu, […]

Recently, kidnappers have abducted journalists and family members in a new twist of fate from colliding with authorities to falling into the hands of hoodlums.

 

The hazards of journalism in Nigeria might have shifted from threats from the establishment to abductions of journalists and their family members.

The latest was the kidnap of Yahanasu, wife of the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), correspondents’ chapel, Nasarawa State, Suleiman Abubakar on Wednesday evening. The abductors demanded for N5million ransom.

According to reports, the chairman and his wife were attacked along Gudi-Garaku road on their way to Lafia from Keffi.

Abubakar said the abductors shot at the union’s bus conveying them and others from Keffi, where his wife had gone to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

However, Abubakar told Daily Trust on Sunday that his wife with other three women that were abducted has been released but did not say if a ransom was paid or not.

Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Samaila Usman said the abductees were rescued at about 9:30p.m. on Thursday March 28 due to sustained pressures from the search party that included Police Mobile Force personnel, Counter Terrorism Unit, and conventional Police officers that were formed by Commissioner of Police Bola Longe. “They were reunited with their family hale and hearty,” he said.

Before then, on Friday March 22, a reporter of Channels Television, Mr Friday Okeregbe was kidnapped with the captors demanding a ransom of N50million. The reporter covers the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation among other duties for the broadcast organization.

However, the reporter was released late on Thursday, March 28 but was unclear if the ransom was paid.

The journalist was kidnapped in the heart of Abuja on the way to the Games Village en route to check his mechanic.

According to family sources, the abductors told them they are aware he works with Channels Television.

Meanwhile, the Africa Media Watch, an arm of the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) wants the Police to do all it can to ensure the safe return of Okeregbe to his family.

In a statement by the Project Manager, Joy Gadani, the organization also said urged the Police to take more steps to protect all journalists from all forms of attacks and harassments.

Also, Ahmad Garba, a journalist with the Aminiya, the Hausa Language publication of Daily Trust Newspapers was kidnapped along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on his way to Kaduna. The incident happened on Thursday March 7. He spent eight days in captivity.

Narrating his ordeal, he said after closing from work he decided to return to Kaduna because he has an appointment with my doctor on Friday morning.

According to him, he left office around 2p.m. and arrived Zuba Motor Park around 3p.m. with a friend they were travelling together.

He said the driver was a security personnel travelling to Zaria but stopped to pick up passengers to get money for fuel on the way. Ahmad told Daily Trust on Sunday that he cautioned the driver for time wasting after stopping to buy roasted meat and firewood explain that a journey of less than one and half hours was taking close to three hours.

He said near Rijana, there were gunshots closed to a bridge and were trapped. He said one of the passengers advised the driver to reverse but in doing that unfortunately the car fell into a ditch. The driver tried to engage one of the bandits to dispose him of his gun but was shot. He said he tried to run but one of the kidnappers hit him with a stick and he fell and he collected his phone.

“We started trekking around 8p.m. to 2a.m. before we got to their camp inside the forest. As we trekked they were flogging those who were slow. We crossed several streams before we got to their den. We were seven males and one female. The girl was about 22 years old. I understood she lives around Sabon Tasha Area of Kaduna,” Ahmad said.

According to him, the gang leader who they nicknamed “Commander” read out the rules and regulations of the camp. Some of the rules was that they kidnap to make money, anybody that tried to escape will be killed, everyone should be obedient to camp rules because according to him, no matter how long one stays at the camp he will surely return home safe as long as he is discipline and obedient.

Ahmad said “in the morning they discovered my identity card which showed I’m a journalist. From there they shifted their attention on me.” He said the abductors are mainly Fulanis between the ages of 20 and 25 with the leader and few others about 30 years old. ‎Furthermore, he said the abductors were all wearing army uniforms and well-armed.

Speaking further, Ahmad pointed out that the Commander warned his boys not to even attempt to misbehave with the girl that was kidnapped because, according to him, he was in the business to make money not to rape women.

A N30million ransom was placed on Ahmad, later reduced to N15million, N5million, N2million and later reduced to N1.5million after Ahmad’s mother personally pleaded with abductor’s leader. But this is after a long and grueling negotiation.

Nevertheless, Ahmad said the amount could still not be raised as only N1million was available which they collected at about 10a.m. on the eight day. The Commander congratulated those whose ransom were paid and “magnanimously” gave each N1, 500 as transport fare.