Attempt To Kidnap Ex-president’s Daughter Frustrated

The Department of State Services, SSS, yesterday paraded a gang of suspected kidnappers who attempted to abduct the daughter of Nigeria's former president, the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

The daughter, name withheld, was said to have employed a security gateman, one Abu Katsina, at her construction site, but she did not know he had links with daredevil kidnappers. With the help of the insider gateman, the suspects were able to monitor the late Yar'Adua's daughter to the point when they were ready to strike.

The spokesman of the SSS, Ms Marilyn Ogar, who broke the news of the foiled kidnap bid to journalists, said the kidnappers were nabbed after they had hatched the plan. Two of the suspects, Hamza Abubakar from Kebbi State and Lawrence Okoro, were arrested while five other suspects were still on the run.

Ogar said that the duo had on Aug. 21 attempted to kidnap the late president's daughter at a construction site belonging to her at Kado, FCT. She disclosed that Abubakar, 27, and Okoro, 43, colluded with Abu Katsina and four others to attempt the kidnap.

The other suspects include Daddy Mohammed, Isa Keteri, Masa'udu Kateri and Ik (FNU).

According to the spokesman, Hamza cultivated the friendship of Katsina at the construction site, adding that this afforded him the opportunity to visit the area regularly.

"Having obtained sufficient information on the lady, he contacted Dennis, who was at Owerri at the time. However, the Service, acting on actionable intelligence, nullified the plot before it was actualised," she said.

Ogar alleged that the suspects had planned to kidnap and detain the lady at Zuba, the border town between Abuja and Niger State, in the residence of an acquaintance of Okoro.

According to Ogar, Abubakar was charged with armed robbery in 2006 and remanded at Goron  Dutse Prison, Kano, till Aug. 9, 2013, before he was granted bail while Okoro was also charged with a similar offence in 2000 and remanded in same prison till March 1, 2013, before being granted bail.

She said the duo became friends while in remand and later reunited in August 2013 after their freedom and subsequently hatched the kidnap.

Hamza, Dennis and other collaborators would be charged in court soon, Ogar said.

In another development, the SSS paraded a fake army general, one Abubakar Sani, 65, who allegedly claimed to be a special adviser on defence to the president.

Ogar told newsmen that the suspect's real name is Elias Tyopart Adams who also claimed to be a coordinating member of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

Ogar disclosed that following a complaint from the officials of Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) about the intimidating activities of the suspect, the SSS initiated investigation into his activities.

She said that the investigation which led to Sani's arrest revealed that the suspect met with PPMC officials in 2012 and claimed to be the special adviser to the president.

The fake general was said to have told the PPMC officials that he was directed by the presidential villa to facilitate the speedy supply of DPK through certain markets located at flooded parts of the country.

Ogar said that the fake general claimed that this was a means to mitigate the burden of victims of the 2012 national flood disaster.

"Investigation also revealed that Elias had equally impersonated a former minister of defence and secured up to five lorry loads of DPK from Warri and Kaduna depots respectively. The suspect used the following business ventures as fronts to divert petroleum products: Usmad Ventures, Arung Oils, Bonje Oil and Gas, and Chavota Oil and Gas," she said.

Ogar said that the suspect claimed that he acted on behalf of the minister and that the product was meant to be distributed to Muslims in Takum, Taraba State, for the celebration of Sallah.

Elias, who fielded questions from journalists, said he got involved in the act out of frustration. He revealed that between January and until when he was arrested, he had made about N800, 000 from the fraudulent act.

Boko Haram members yesterday killed a wife of a divisional police officer (DPO), Mrs Uwani Wanti, three civilians and scores of other security officers in Gujba local government area of Yobe State.

Until her death, the DPO's wife was said to have been bedridden while the attack was said to have taken place at about 9pm.

The victims were said to be watching the Champion League when the sect members struck. It was further gathered that the sect members also burnt a temporary police station, the residence of  the DPO with his wife inside, offices of  Local Educational authorities, the Fire Service and many houses.

Sparking to journalists during a press briefing, the commissioner of police, Yobe State Command, Mr  Ahmad Rufa'I, confirmed the incident, saying many government buildings were destroyed

He said, "Two police officers, one military soldier and three civilians lost their lives during the incident. The suspected Boko Haram also burnt the DPO's house with his wife inside."

However, it was discovered that many private vehicles, police band, government buildings and shops were burned down.

Residents in Gujba lga who spoke to journalists said that they heard a loud bang followed by sporadic shootings. They also alleged that it was the police that planted the bomb. Musa Sani who lives close to the scene of the incident claimed that it was a frightening day for the residents because they heard several gunshots.