Former LG Chairman in Kebbi State, 12 Others Kidnapped  in Niger

Suspected gunmen abduct three persons in Kwara 

Laleye Dipo in Minna and  Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former Chairman of  Ngeski Local Government Area, in Kebbi State

Alhaji Garba Hassan and 12 others have been kidnapped by gunmen.

They were said to have been abducted along Tegina – Kontagora road in Niger state at about noon yesterday.

This is just as suspected gunmen have abducted three persons in Ayetoro community in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State.

The former LG boss and his co-travellers were said to be going to Kebbi state from Abuja in a commercial vehicle when the incident.

It was said that between Tegina and Kontagora town in Niger state the gunmen appeared from the bush and stopped the vehicle in which Hassan and the others were traveling.

They were subsequently led into the bush by the bandits from where they were taken to unknown destination, it was learnt.

When contacted the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun said: “ I will find out and get back to you.”

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor Alhaji Nasir Idris, Mr. Ahmed Idris, confirmed the story in a telephone interview.

“We have heard about it, we are investigating the circumstances that led to his kidnap. Everything will be done to secure Alhaji Garba Hassan’s release,” he said.

The victim was the Chairman of Ngeski LGA between 2007 and 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was planning to return to the APC before his kidnap.

Meanwhile, suspected gunmen have abducted three persons in Ayetoro community in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Monday when about nine gunmen, four of them wearing masks, stormed the area wielding AK-47 rifles shooting sporadically.

The abductors were said to have also invaded the palace of the traditional ruler in the community, Oba C.O Odeyemi, destroyed his residence and also burgled the shop of his wife, Olori Odeyemi, carting away some items and cash.

Speaking with journalists last night the TIC chairman of the local government, Mr. Kayode Bayode, confirmed the incident.

According to him, the local vigilance group has been empowered and working with the police and other security agencies to rescue the victims.

“They only destroyed the palace of our traditional rulers and looted indomie, spaghetti and other items and cash from his wife’s shop because they were not around.

“We have supplied the vigilance  group with weapons and ammunitions for them to be able to confront the kidnappers.

“I am very optimistic that they will be rescued before the end of tomorrow (today)”, he added.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi SP, confirmed the incident.

He said: “Security operatives working with vigilantes and local hunters, have been deployed to the bush for a possible rescue of the victims.”