How Two Journalists, Their Wives, Children Were Abducted By Bandits In Kaduna

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

Two Kaduna based  working journalists- Abdul’Gafar Alabelewe ( the Nation), Abdul’Raham Aodu(Blue Print ), their wives and children,were among others abducted at about 10.30pm on Saturday, July 6, 2024 by suspected bandits in Kaduna State.

They were kidnapped from their homes at the  Millennium City in Danhonu area of Chikun local Council of the  State.

An eye witness ,who is also a family member of one the abducted Journalists, Taofeed Olayemi, said the suspected bandits who invaded the estate in their numbers scaled the fence,and gained entry into the homes of the victims ,after breaking the doors and windows of their apartments.

The abductors were also said to have shot indiscriminately into the  air, upon storming the area ,with intent to scare neighbours from any possible intervention.

According to Olayemi, the bandits in the end made away with the Nation Newspapers reporter, Alabelewe, his wife, and two his children.

They took away Alhaji Aodu of the Blue Print Newspapers, and his wife but left their sick daughter behind.

“Initially, they picked Alabalewe, his wife and three of his children and a girl living with them. Later, they (the abductors) asked the girl to go back with one of the children .They left with Alabelewe, his wife and two of their children.

Olayemi further informed that the criminal elements came at about 10 .30 pm. They shattered their (victims)  doors, windows and removed the burglary proofs after scaling the fence.

“They first forced Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.

“Then they entered Adebelewe’s apartment through the fence after, also, forcing the doors open. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife, and two of their children and left immediately.

After a while, some personnel of the local vigilante group arrived and started to shot into the air,” Olayemi narrated.

In reaction,  Kaduna State Police Command on Sunday June 7, said it has deployed its operatives to rescue the kidnapped Journalists ,as well as fish out the abductors.

Speaking on the development, the Command’s Spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, noted that all efforts are being made by Police Operatives to locate and free the victims unhurt

“We have deployed our operatives into the bush where the kidnappers are believed to be holding out”, Hassan said

Similarly, the Kaduna State Government had not issued any official statement.

The Source reports that this is the first time in recent times that journalists, have fallen victims to the criminal activities of bandits operating in some parts of the Northern region.

For the records, The Nation is owned by President Bola Tinubu while Blueprint is owned by the Minister for Information & National Orientation, Mohammad Idris.