Two lecturers escape from kidnappers’ den

HURIWA demands holistic anti-kidnap legislation

The two kidnapped lecturers – Adamu Chonoko from Ahmadu Bello University and Umar Chonoko from Kaduna Polytechnic – have escaped from the den of their abductors. The spokesperson of Kebbi Indigenes Resident in Kaduna, Garba Muhammad, confirmed this to The Guardian yesterday.

The Garkuwan Wakilin Sarkin Zurun Kaduna said, “The two siblings and indigenes of Kebbi State have escaped from their kidnappers and arrived the palace of Wakilin Sarkin Zurun Kaduna and were received by the Wakili around 11.51am today (Sunday). We thank Allah for their escape.“Umar Chonoko went to deliver the N2 million and a motorcycle ransom to secure his brother Adamu’s freedom, only for the abductors to hold him back and demanded another N5 million ransom.”

According to him, N3 million was delivered, making a total of N5 million; but the abductors made further demand of N10 million.“Their demand could not be met. Just this morning, with the assistant of security agents, both of them escaped.

“We thank the media, security agencies and all those who helped us in praying for their freedom,” he added. Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the escape of the two lecturers.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, stated that about 11.51am yesterday, the command received information from the family of the two kidnapped lecturers that they had managed to escape from the den of their kidnappers.Sabo, in his statement, assured the families of the victims and members of the public that the perpetrators of this crime would be apprehended and be brought to book.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the National Assembly and the 36 Houses of Assemblies to fashion out effective national legislation to effectively curb the rising cases of kidnapping for ransom.

The pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation also condemned the kidnap of a Catholic priest, Fr. Theophilus Ndulue, in Enugu State.It believes that there are kidnapping cells in Enugu targeting Catholic priests, with a view to instigating bloody religious upheavals in the South East.

In a statement signed yesterday in Abuja, the coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the national media affairs director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, urged the Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to approach the other governors of the South East to map out security strategies to confront the violent crimes in the region.