Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin

*Teacher, 4 others kidnapped in Yobe 

UNKNOWN gunmen have abducted Jephthah Robert, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The abduction, it was gathered, occurred at about 9:30 pm on Monday.

Though details of the abduction were sketchy, yesterday, it was learned that the gunmen stormed his residence around Dimrose Road, in Yenagoa, laid ambush and waylaid him as he was returning home around 9:30 pm before whisking him away.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.

The news of the abduction of Jonathan’s cousin filtered in barely 24 hours after the state Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, was freed by his abductors.

Teacher, 4 others kidnapped in Yobe — Police

In a related development, the Police Command in Yobe, yesterday, confirmed the abduction of Babagana Kachalla, an Assistant Headmaster, Central Primary School, Buni Yadi, and four others by gunmen in Madiya Village, Gujba Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, in a statement in Damaturu, listed the other abductees as Abubakar Barma, Haruna Barma, Modu Bukar and Hajiya Gana.

He said the incident, which occurred at about 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday was reported to the divisional police station in the area by one Mala Boyema at about 10:37 a.m.

The spokesman said Boyema luckily escaped the abduction carried out by heavily armed insurgents when he ran into their roadblock in Madiya.

He, however, said Gana was later released by the insurgents.

Hanifa: Another girl murdered in Kano

l*t’s barbaric, says NHRC

Barely days after news of the gruesome killing of Hanifa Abubakar spread like a wildfire, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, yesterday, confirmed the killing of another teenage girl, Zuwaira Gambo, in the state.

Ganduje revealed this when he received the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, represented by the Federal Commissioner of the commission, Abubakar Muhammad (General), on a condolence visit to the governor over the death of little Hanifa.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, said security agents had already trailed and arrested the culprit, who murdered Zuwaira.

According to him, “There is another case of one Zuwaira Gambo, 12 years old, who was also murdered. We got the culprit as security agents trailed him and arrested him.

“The case is also going hand in hand with that of Hanifa. And we are committed to seeing that justice is done.”

The governor applauded the commission for identifying with the state, saying: “We are glad for your special concern over the sad incident. As we remain in synergy with you over this tragedy we shall follow it up to its logical conclusion.”

It’s a barbaric act, says NHRC

Earlier, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Ojukwu, represented by the Federal Commissioner of the Commission, Abubakar Muhammad (General), condemned the gruesome murder of little Hanifa Abubakar, describing the act as barbaric.

He equally commended the governor over his quick response to the gruesome murder of Hanifa Abubakar Abba, a five-year-old pupil, who was kidnapped and killed by her teacher.

Culled from Vanguard