Bandits Kidnap Two Journalists And Their Families In Kaduna Night Raid
It was learnt that Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, who works with The Nation Newspaper and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper were abducted along with their wives and children at about 10:30 pm on Saturday.
Alhaji Alabelewe, the current chairman of the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council and one other journalist have been reportedly abducted by gunmen suspected to bandits in the state.
It was learnt that Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, who works with The Nation Newspaper and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper were abducted along with their wives and children at about 10:30 pm on Saturday.
The armed men reportedly stormed Danhonu community in Millennium city of Chikun local government area of Kaduna and headed for the houses of the reporters.
A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday, said the bandits stormed the community and started shooting indiscriminately before the abduction.
“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children,” the source was quoted as saying.
“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”
The source said Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, but the bandits left behind their sick daughter.
“They came around 10:30 pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically. They first burst Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.
“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife and two of their kids. They left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air,” the source said.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan, for confirmation and comments failed as he did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.
