The Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Mansir Hassan, has confirmed the abduction of two journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the State NUJ Council, and three of his family members by gunmen on Saturday night.
Also kidnapped, according to Hassan, was the correspondent of Blueprint Newspaper, Abdulraheem Aodo, along with his wife.
In a statement on Sunday, the police spokesman said the two journalists and their family members were abducted from their residences at Millennium City area in Kaduna at about 10:30 p.m. when the kidnappers stormed the community.
”The victims are the Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kaduna State NUJ Council, AbdulGafar Alabelewe and 3 of his family members who were kidnapped last night at Danhono 2, Millennium City, Kaduna.
”Also, the Correspondent of Blueprint Newspaper Abdulraheem Aodo and his wife were kidnapped too at the same place.
”AbdulGafar Alabelewe is also the Correspondent of the Nation Newspaper.
“We have deployed our operatives into the bush, where the kidnappers are suspected to be holding the victims captive,” the police spokesman said, adding that operatives were trying their best to see that the victims were freed and unhurt.
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A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who also confirmed the incident to journalists, said the bandits stormed the community at about 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically before carrying out the kidnap.
Olayemi said that hoodlums kidnapped Alabelewe, his wife and two of his children, while Aodo and his wife were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter.
“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary proof after scaling the fence.
“They came around 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically. They first forced Aodo’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 and left immediately.
“The vigilantes arrived much later and started shooting into the air after the criminals had whisked away the journalists.”