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The 14 that was not present when they were needed.

 

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SEN. NENADI ESTHER USMAN
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

KADUNA

 

Formed “Education and Empowerment for women” with its headquarters at Jere in Kaduna State and she is the present chairperson of the Coalition of NGO´s for Women Development in Kaduna State.

Not Registered to Vote

Holds a first degree in Geography at ABU, Zaria and later a PGD Uni Jos.

 

 

 

What about their children?

SEN. ALHASSAN AISHA JUMMAI
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

TARABA

 

Said she will “make laws that will touch the lives of the Nigerian people”.

 

Abstain

A lawyer; Really?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where were you when you were needed? You abstained

SEN. KURE ZAYNAB ABDULKADIR
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

NIGER

 

Claim she will “contribute towards the vision for Youth Development through Empowerment Socially, Economically and Politically”.

 

Abstain

BSc in Political Science from ABU, Zaria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims !!!!

SEN. HELEN UDOAKAHA ESUENE
Senator, 7th National Assembly (20011-2015)


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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

AKWA IBOM

 

Has the political clout to make impact in the Senate and had promised to do so to the benefit of her constituents and the nation at large.

 

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Widow of former military governor of old Cross River State, UJ Esuene.

SEN. ALOYSIUS AKPAN ETOK
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

AKWA IBOM

 

Claim To Contribute to A Vibrant Senate And To Ensure That Quality Legislation

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E Tu Brutee

Very vague!!!! Doctorate in what?

 

SEN. EWHERIDO AKPOR (DECEASED 4/5/1963 - 30/6/2013) PIUS
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)


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Political Party:

Democratic Peoples Party

State:

DELTA

Deceased

Counterpart from same state voted to delete cl4b

 

May His Soul Rest In Peace.

 

 

 

SEN. KUTA DAHIRU AWAISU
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)


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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

NIGER

 

Claims Representation of his Constituency, Qualitative Education, Job creation for the youth and attracting federal presence in Niger State.

Not Voted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education for all? What happen to your vote for underage girls???

 

SEN. AYADE BENEDICT BENGIOUSHUYE
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)
Professor

View My Senatorial District Page

Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

CROSS RIVER

 

1.agro investment development 2.mini - hydro rural power supply 3.improved healthcare system

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What happened to your number 3 undertaking? This year there will be 20,000 cases of VVF- all mostly children

 

SEN. MAINA MA'AJI LAWAN
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015); CON


View My Senatorial District Page

 

Political Party:

All Nigeria Peoples Party

State:

BORNO

 

Rural infrastructure, poverty alleviation and employment generation for all

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afraid of Boko Haram?

 

 

SEN. AHMED M. MAKARFI
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011 -2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

KADUNA

 

No achievements

Abstain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course; local and religious politics at play here.

SEN. MOHAMMED BASHIR GARBA
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Peoples Democratic Party

State:

KANO

 

He is in the Women Affairs committee of the senate and he has achieved nothing.

 

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highest paid senator in the world and has achieved nothing.

 

SEN. ONAOLAPO OLUGBENGA OBADARA
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)

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Political Party:

Action Congress Of Nigeria

State:

OGUN

 

Privatization (Chairman) Local and Foreign Debts

Not Registered to vote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making the future of our children very onerous indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

SEN. David Mark
Senator, 7th National Assembly (2011 - 2015)

View My: Benue South Senatorial District.

Political Party:

 

Peoples Democratic Party

 

State:

Benue

 

 

The declaration has however aroused a series of controversies as exit polls in the state had suggested otherwise. Is it the reason we do have his details in the Senate website?

He promised people he will provide quality leadership and representation saying, “I will not let you down, I will do only those things that will bring honour and glory to the people of Benue South, the State and the Nation at large”.

Not Registered to Vote

Their Leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really Corneal?

 

But you are from Benue

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The 14 that was not present when they were needed.

     

    , Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has disclosed!

 

  • It is noteworthy that 50% of the only women (all grandmothers) in the senate failed to turn up, abstained or failed to register to vote. They were clearly told by boy Friday yerima that for Islamic reasons the clause should be kept!

 

  •  Please find the telephone of these senator and query them through text and calls.

VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.
In addition to the medical sequelae from these fistulas, they often have a profound effect on the patient's emotional well-being.
Causes[edit]

It is often caused by childbirth (in which case it is known as an obstetric fistula), when a prolonged labor presses the unborn child tightly against the pelvis, cutting off blood flow to the vesicovaginal wall. The affected tissue may necrotize (die), leaving a hole.
Vaginal fistulas can also result from violent rape. This injury has become common in some war zones, where rape is used as a weapon against female civilians. As a result, some health centers in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun to specialize in the surgical repair of vaginal fistulas.

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Some of the Nigerians evacuated from Libya in the wake of the ongoing unrest in the North African country said yesterday that they “would rather live in Libya than in Nigeria” because they are better off there. The returnees, who told Daily Trust that they have three different names – the one they use in Libya, the one they have on their passports and the one they were known by before going to Libya – gave their names as Muhammad Ibrahim and Ibrahim. They both hail from Abia State.

 

They said, “The living condition in Libya is better than what you have in Nigeria. Life is cheap and the level of security is quite fantastic. After the crisis, we would be ready to go back (to Libya).”

Some however said that they found themselves in Libya on their way to Europe. They have variously spent between four and 17 years in Libya.

One of the returnees, the professional boxer Bash Ali, who said he was in Tripoli for medical treatment, commended the Federal Government for the evacuation exercise and the courteous and speedy response of the concerned agencies.

“I am proud to be a Nigerian… I am proud of this encouraging exercise. Home is home… and home is sweet. Nothing is more comforting than to be among your people at home,” Bash Ali said. He said as an African, he was not happy at the turn of events in Libya, saying that the crisis was caused by bad advisers rather than by a single individual.

Sources at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also told Daily Trust that 80% of Nigerians living in Libya hail from Imo, Anambra, Edo, Abia and Delta states.
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12166300684?profile=originalThe glamorous lovers’ day celebration on Monday turned bloody at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when gunmen killed two students. Daily Sun gathered that the clash was between two rival cult groups, namely, Black Axe and the Buccaneers,’ over a female student allegedly snatched by the Capone of the Black Axe for Valentine celebration.

 

The action of the Capone , the source said did not go down well with the other group leading to the clash.
A student who witnessed the shooting said besides the two cult members who were shot dead, about four others sustained injuries and were ferried out of the campus by their leaders to shield their identity.

The sources said the cult members who carried out the attack were not UNILAG students but members from another campus, adding that the attack was carried out in a commando style with sporadic shooting.
An undergraduate student of English Department told Daily Sun that the Buccaneers’ group attacked the Black Axe members while another student returning from the Mosque said those who carried out the killing were not from UNILAG because they did not cover their faces.

It was learnt that as soon the shooting started, students scampered for safety while others took cover behind the wall and under cars packed around, while others ran into the halls to avoid being hit by stray bullets. 
A senior lecturer who confirmed the killings said the university management had met to curtail any reprisal attack while security personnel had taken over the investigation of the deadly cult clash.
When Daily Sun visited the troubled institution yesterday, there was uneasy calm, as most staff and students rebuffed efforts made by the reporters to get their comments.

However, one of the students who resides at Sodeinde Hall, said there was sporadic gunshots outside the premises which caused panic everywhere. 
It was gathered that the crisis, which erupted when the students were at the peak of lovers’ day celebration, created stampede on the campus as people ran for safety.

One of the victims of the attack reportedly ran into Sodeinde Hall for help, from where he was taken to the hospital.
Although the Hall Master of Sodeinde Hall declined comments on the issue, one of the officials, who wouldn’t want his name published, said the attack could not be linked to any cult group. He said there was increasing speculation that the perpetrators of the attack could be fighting for love. Efforts made by Daily Sun our reporter to ascertain the identities of the victims were unsuccessful.
The news bulletin of the university, Information Flash (ISSN 08195540) also captured the incident, while assuring the staff and students of the university of adequate security.

“The attention of the universities authorities has been drawn to the incident which occurred in one of the Halls of Residence in the late hours of Monday, February 14, 2011 where two persons were reportedly injured in fracas. The university management has commenced investigation into the unusual incident, in particular at a time when preparation for the first semester examinations due to commence on February 21, 2011 are in top gear. Security has been intensified to ensure safety of life and property on campus. Law enforcement agents have been involved to assist the university in this respect,” it said. 
Daily Sun learnt that students are leaving the campus because of the fear of reprisal attack while some parents called their wards on phone to return home until the situation is brought under control. 

The Deputy Registrar Information of UNILAG, Mr. Dare Adebisi refused to pick his calls or replied to text message sent to his phone.
When the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Samuel Jinadu (DSP) was called thrice, he promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and did not call back as at the press time....

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34-Ivory-Coast_509439t.jpgThe outcome of Ivory Coast's first presidential election in a decade was plunged into doubt yesterday as the constitutional council declared incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo the winner a day after the election chief handed victory to the opposition.

The new results released by a Gbagbo loyalist on national television directly contradicted those announced on Thursday, which were considered credible by the US, the African Union and the United Nations.

Ivory Coast's presidential election was meant to restore stability in the West African nation after a 2002-03 civil war destroyed the economy of one of the most affluent countries on the continent. Instead the poll is now casting a growing shadow. If Gbagbo refuses to step down, many fear the world's top cocoa producer could spiral into violence again.

The results announced on state television by constitutional council head Paul Yao N'Dre cancelled the votes from seven of the country's 19 voting districts, all opposition strongholds where the ruling party claims the vote was marred by violence and intimidation.

"The irregularities are of such a nature that they invalidate the vote (in those districts)," said N'Dre, who is also a senior member of Gbagbo's party.

Erasing those districts wiped out a significant share of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara's margin, resulting in a victory for Gbagbo. His five-year mandate officially expired in 2005. For five years he has repeatedly cancelled the date for this election, claiming the country was too volatile to assure security and later that polls were technically flawed. A 2007 peace deal broke years of political stalemate, leading to the dismantling of a UN-patrolled buffer zone.

The US has urged the parties to accept the election commission's results showing Mr Ouattara had won. "Credible, accredited electoral observers have characterised the balloting as free and fair, and no party should be allowed to obstruct further the electoral process," US National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement.

The African Union said that Thursday's results were satisfactory and asked the country's leaders to put the interest of the Ivory Coast first.

"Any other approach risks plunging Côte d'Ivoire into a crisis with incalculable consequences for the country, as well as for the region and the continent as a whole," the AU said in a statement.

The country was isolated by the ruling elite immediately after Mr Ouattara's win was announced, with a decree read on state TV saying that the nation's air, sea and maritime borders had been closed....

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IBB "bribes" Journalists

Five months ago, a friend of mine, who edits a national daily, sent me a text message agreeing substantially with my column, ‘The Punch and the rest of us’, except the generalised conclusion that “all (journalists) have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the profession”. There are still some journalists, he submits, who toe the narrow path of integrity. Of course I knew where he was coming from, but I also knew the context in which I had made that statement.

I revisit that statement in light of the stories spewing out of the political beat, specifically on the race for the 2011 presidential elections and how it affects the integrity of news.

As part of the effort to sell his candidature for the presidency, former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) invited as many as 40 journalists to his Minna home on August 14 for an interview. I have heard questions asked about why he should invite journalists to his home instead of a public place if he didn’t have an ulterior motive, and why he should offer monetary gifts to the journalists in the name of paying for their transportation.

One news medium, which has championed this opposition in the open, is the online agency, Sahara Reporters. According to SR each of the journalists received N10 million for heeding Babangida’s call on his presidential ambition. That is N400 million just for one night’s interview from an aspirant yet to win his party’s nomination if it were true. But it was not. When some of the journalists complained about the fictional sum, SR changed the story on August 19, saying it was just “a paltry N250, 000 each”. Rather than admit its initial error SR simply said, “our accountants have told us that going by the number of 40 journalists in attendance, we are still around the same ballpark of N10 million”. So much for credible reporting!

Three days later, SR followed up with ‘IBB and his Rogue Journalists’, accusing the journalists of roguery and professional misconduct; roguery, because they collected money from two sources—their employers who presumably authorised and funded the trip and their news source, IBB; misconduct because it is unethical for them to demand/receive gratification from news sources for their services.

And on August 23 in ‘IBB Nocturnal Press Parley: Punch fires Editorial board Chairman’, SR stayed on top of the story by reporting that Adebolu Arowolo, editorial board chairman of the Punch, had lost his job for going on that trip without his management’s approval..

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There are lingering doubts that various sources are trying to sweep under the carpet the huge sums of money found on the Freed Journalists by their captured Kidnappers who have shown great honour amongst thieves by denying the amounts credited to have been stolen from the journalists.Na 1.5m we collect not 3million
Photo:Fat Cat well fed recently kidnapped Journalists Deji Elumoye, Vice chairman, Lagos NUJ (left), Chairman Lagos Council, Wahab Oba and National President. NUJ, Mohammed Garuba on Oba and others’ arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, yesterday. Photo: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI
Article
The four journalists released by kidnappers in Aba yesterday are now the subject of deep controversy following their disclosure that their abductors robbed them of N3 million ($25,000). In their testimonies to their colleagues shortly after they arrived in Lagos yesterday, the group, led by Wahab Oba, the head of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Lagos state and a staff of the federal ministry of information and communication, Adolphus Okonkwo of the Voice of Nigeria, Sylvester Okere of the Champion Newspapers, and Sola Oyeyipo, another Lagos-based freelance journalist, said the kidnappers took away the money from them as soon as they were carjacked and driven into the bush. In an account captured by the Lagos based Punch newspaper, Oba said, “When we went for the NEC meeting, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio, gave us N1m as fulfilment of his promise to bankroll a national seminar which we had in the state three months ago.

“He also gave each NEC official N100, 000 as transport fare. I also had some money on me because I had been travelling recently. Other people had some money on them too.

“The kidnappers collected all the money. If you value what they collected from us in terms of cash and other things, it is almost N5m. We had about N2.6m cash and the car which we bought not long ago valued at N2.4m was also stolen.”


These explanations constitute the first time that professional journalists are admitting in public to have collected bribes, in this case called “seminar bankroll” or “transport fare.” It is leading to a public gasp about the way journalists do their official business, and the legality of carrying such huge funds around in contravention of the Nigerian money laundering law. The men spent eight days in the den of the armed men in deep forests in the Southeast.



it had been reported that the journalists, in addition to participating in a National Executive Council meeting in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State two weeks ago, also visited Governor Godswill Akpabio and gave him a special award tagged 'Responsive Governance Award'. It is unclear what Governor Akpabio, a notably corrupt governor, may have accomplished to win the “award,” or even whether the award was officially recognized by the NUJ bylaws. 


Akwa Ibom state government house sources told our reporters that each of the journalists that met with Akpabio received bribes aimed at silencing the media. One source told our reporters that in this particular circumstance, each of the visitors individually received N1 million while the national executives of the National Union of Journalists, including the president, Mr. Mohammed Garba, collected a N20 million gratification from Mr. Akpabio.

Our sources further said that the information leading to the kidnap of the journalists emanated from the state, specifically from persons who were aware that the governor had doled out the bribes to the journalists. That may explain why they were trailed as soon as they left Government House, one source said. 



Recently, spotlight on the penchant of Governor Akpabio to use bribery as an instrument of official policy. In a high profile case meticulously covered by SaharaReporters, we demonstrated the "gift" of a bulletproof Mercedes Benz GL 450 SUV worth $500,000 to the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri. After we concluded the exposé, Mr. Akpabio hired some journalists to visit the state to inspect the vehicle, which he claimed to be a “security vehicle” owned by the state.

Further investigation revealed that the license plate on the vehicle displayed by Akpabio was fake, as it belonged to a different car make which was licensed to one Chief C. Orizu, with an address of Adotolo Nnewi in Anambra State. A few days later the supplier of the vehicle, Charles Ahize, also issued a statement in The Sun newspaper in which he contradicted the governor’s claims, saying he had privately supplied the $500,000 bullet proof car to Mr. Akpabio. This confirmed the car was purchased privately, contrary to Akpabio's alibi that it was owned by Akwa Ibom state.



The latest jamboree by the NUJ leadership to Akpabio and the granting of a dubious award to the governor was done quid pro quo to help him further evade scrutiny for his corrupt ways. It is instructive that the leaders of the NUJ in Lagos have studiously avoided investigating the source of the car Akpabio gave to the EFCC’s Waziri, even after the licence plate number found on the vehicle displayed by the governor bore a Lagos number. It is even more disturbing that the Lagos press has generally ignored the story even after the Lagos State government declared Governor Akpabio’s licence plate to have been forged.

It would be recalled that in one of our stories last April, following the invitation of selected journalists to Government House in an effort to discredit the story about Governor Akpabio’s bribe car, we wondered why none of the journalists asked any professional questions.



The possession of huge sums of cash by the journalists was already a source of rebuke by a police officer last week, who wondered aloud why the journalists had not traveled by air, given the long distance to their destination. But a Lagos-based journalist said that his colleagues probably didn't want others to notice when they returned to Lagos, as a quiet return from such trips enable them to hide the booty from politicians from such colleagues who may want a cut.

Also, a Lagos based attorney said that by their admission the journalists have contravened Section 1 of the Money Laundering legislation of 2004, which prohibits individuals from carrying more than N500,000 on them while companies may carry up to two million Naira.

The kidnapped journalists arrived Lagos yesterday in private jet chartered and paid for by the the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

As expected the revelations by the freed journalists have gingered Nigerians on the Internet. Social networking sites, chatrooms and internet forums are buzzing with the story and people are pressing for answers.

As one commentator asked, "Is the Lagos press going to investigate the obvious issues in this case, or are they going to protect their colleagues? Where did the journalists and their driver get a whopping N3 million that they admitted the kidnappers took from them? Under what conditions does the NUJ go around the country to give “awards” to politicians, and what was Governor Akpabio’s award for?

Are members of the NUJ executive immune to the provisions of the Money Laundering Act of 2004?”
Another commentator asked, “Can journalists who collect transport fare and mobilization fees report a governor professionally? This is a big scandal,” he added.

Kidnappers Deny 3m Cash Stolen No Honour Amongst Thieves & kidnappers

Contrary to the widely publicised statement credited to the just released Chairman Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Wahab Oba, from kidnappers den that the sum of N3 million was seized from them, the kidnappers were said to have denied the amount saying they only collected about N1.6 million from them.

It will be recalled that Oba on arrival in Lagos from Abia State Sunday evening, told Journalists that a total sum of N3 million was seized from them by the kidnappers.


Oba, who was also taken to the headquarters of the State Security Service SSS at Shangisha, Ikosi- Isheri Local Council Development Area Monday evening, told Vanguard that the kidnappers had put a call across to some people denying ever collecting such amount.

His words: "I was surprised when I saw the report today that a sum of N3 million was seized from us by the kidnappers. I must have been misunderstood, what I meant was that the total value of what the kidnappers seized from us would amount to about N2.5 million or N3 million in total value.


"At least about N1.6 million in cash was seized from us instantly while other properties such as Vehicle, a Serena Space bus, Laptop, camera, tape recorder, personnel effects, wristwatches, among other valuables should worth about N2 million.

"We got N1 million from Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio as a fulfillment of his promise to assist us for a project we are embarking on in Lagos while other money collected from all of us should be about N600,000



Read more…
‘How we were kidnapped’
•Onovo deploys special detectives to rescue abducted journalists


Four journalists that were ambushed and kidnapped last Sunday have narrated how they ran
into armed gunmen along Ikot-Ekpene-Aba road.

This comes as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ogbonna Onovo yesterday ordered the deployment of special detectives from Imo and Akwa Ibom State to handle the case.

Also, Senate President David Mark has called on the kidnappers, who have demanded a ransom of N250 million, to release the journalists without any condition.
Photo: Wahab Oba One of the journalists & IGP Onovo

Those abducted are Chairman Lagos State Council Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Wahab Oba, Secretary of Zone G Adolphus Okonkwo, Acting Secretary Lagos State Council Sylvester Okereke, Lagos-based journalist Sola Oyeyipo and the driver of the vehicle.

In phone conversations with NUJ National Secretary Leman Shuaibu, Oba and Okonkwo said they were taken unawares.

Wahab had travelled to Ibadan, Oyo State, last week Tuesday for the Press Council week of that chapter. From there, he proceeded to his hometown of Ilorin in Kwara State to see his aged mother.

He left for Abuja last Wednesday for another official assignment. Okonkwo and Okereke flew into Abuja for that same event. They all left the capital city together on Thursday for Akwa Ibom State to attend the NUJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

On Friday, they attended the opening ceremony, the closed-door meeting on Saturday and left Uyo by 8am the following day. It was on their way back that they were attacked in a Serene Space bus around 10am.

The journalists told Shuaibu that there was a convoy of three vehicles transporting all of them. The first one was attacked by the gunmen who were operating in a Volvo car. They shot into the air while two of them jumped into the bus and forced the driver at gunpoint to follow their vehicle, they said.

Immediately, the two other cars swerved towards another direction. They stopped at some point and fled into the bush. They emerged 30 minutes later and re-boarded their vehicles.

The kidnappers contacted the NUJ National President Garba Mohammed three hours later. They also spoke to the Vice-Chairman of Lagos NUJ Deji Elumoye and demanded for N250 million ransom.

By 1pm yesterday, the kidnappers had not backed down. They spoke to Shuaibu and maintained that they were still waiting for the money. Oba and Okonkwo, were however, allowed to speak to Shuaibu.

The journalists said they were in good condition but were anxious to regain their freedom. Shortly after that, the phone was snatched from them. The kidnappers then asked Shuaibu to ensure that the ransom is paid to avoid any ugly incident.

Hundreds of journalists trooped to Oba's residence in Arepo, Ogun State, yesterday. A prayer session was held for the release of their colleagues.

Meanwhile, the SSS and police are already tracking the kidnappers. Also, Onovo has directed special detectives from Imo and Akwa Ibom States to ensure their release.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Force Headquarters Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu. It said Onovo had directed both Imo and Akwa-Ibom Police Commands to assist in securing the release of the journalists.

According to the statement, the police is deeply concerned about the incident. The force urged members of the NUJ “to be calm over the abduction of their colleagues. We are actually working to rescue your people now in bondage but let me tell you that their kidnappers will be arrested, I can assure you that your colleagues would return to you safely like nothing ever happened to you.”

In another statement in Abuja issued by Shuaibu, the NUJ official urged journalists to remain calm as the union is on top of the matter. Oba’s wife, Barakat, expressed concern over the deteriorating state of health of his 80-year old mother. “What on earth do I know would happen to mama?”she asked.

Another NUJ official, Elumoye, appealed to journalists not to write any story that could jeopardise “our moves of securing the captured safely from the hands of the kidnappers.”

“For now, we are yet to know there location but we have spoken with them on the telephone this morning,” he explained.

The state wing of the National Association of Women Journalists also organised a prayer session at the NUJ Secretariat, Ikeja.

On his part, Senate President David Mark yesterday condemned the spate of kidnappings and abduction and tasked security operatives to “rise up to the challenge and save the citizens of his avoidable hostility in the hands of criminals.”

“No responsible government would allow this to continue,” said the Mark. He added that “we must all rise to the occasion and curb the menace.”

In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Paul Mumeh, the Senate President told the kidnappers to release forthwith the abducted journalists unconditionally, saying, “Enough of this embarrassment, we cannot continue to allow this to happen; criminality of any form is condemnable, it cannot be our way of life.”

Mark called on communities, especially traditional rulers, to join the fight against kidnapping. He sympathised with the families of the victims and the NUJ.
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