Bandits Abduct Two Journalists,Wives,Children in Kaduna

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

Late Saturday night, a large group of bandits stormed the Danhonu Community in the Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, and kidnapped two journalists reporting for the "Nation Blueprint Newspapers." 

The kidnapped journalists, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu, were taken along with their Wives and Children. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija gathered that Alhaji Alabelewe is the current Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna State. 

A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, confirmed the incident, stating that the bandits arrived around 10:30 pm and began shooting sporadically before abducting the victims. 

Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children were taken, while Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter. 

Initially, the bandits had taken Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife, three of his children, and a girl staying with them, but unfortunately the girl staying with them was resealed immediately and also one of the children too was released, recalling that the bandits left with Alabelewe, his wife, and two children instead. 

“They shattered the doors and windows, and removed the burglary bars after scaling the fence,” Olayemi recounted.

Olayemi, who happens to be a family member of Alhaji Aodu lives nearby, explained that the bandits arrived around 10:30pm on Saturday night and began shooting randomly. 

He said, “They first forced to open Alhaji Aodu’s door, took him and his wife, but left their sick daughter behind."

"Then, they scaled the fence of Alhaji Alabelewe's house, entered his bedroom, and abducted him, his wife, and two of their children."

Olayemi further stated that "They left immediately after the operation is accomplished, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.” 

"Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hassan, for a response which was unsuccessful as his phone was not connecting at the time of this operation," Olayemi recounted.