Nigeria’s Sports Writers Association, SWAN Demands Immediate Rescue Of Its Kidnapped Members, Families In Kaduna – SaharaReporters.com
It subsequently demanded the immediate rescue of the kidnapped victims and their family members unhurt.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kaduna State chapter has condemned the abduction of its members by suspected bandits late Saturday night in Kaduna.
It subsequently demanded the immediate rescue of the kidnapped victims and their family members unhurt.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary, Kaduna SWAN, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, in a statement on Sunday, July 7, 2024.
Dickson said, “We are saddened to wake up to a sad news of the violent abduction of two of our members, Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu of the Blueprint Newspaper, as well as Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe of the Nation Newspaper, who were both abducted alongside family members at their respective residences.”
“The incident is disheartening and a development that should be condemned by all,” he added.
SWAN, therefore, called on the Federal and Kaduna State governments as well as security personnel to immediately swing into action to ensure their safe return.
“We also call on all our members to intensify on prayers for their safe return,” it said.
Earlier, the Kaduna State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in a statement signed by the council chairman, Comrade Asmau Yawo Halilu and the Secretary, Comrade Gambo Santos Sanga respectively also condemned the abduction.
It disclosed that the victims were abducted on Saturday night from their residences at Danhono area of Kaduna metropolis, around Millennium City.
“The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has received with shock the brazen and barbaric attack by suspected kidnappers and abduction of the Kaduna orrespondents of The Nation Newspaper and The Blueprint Newspaper alongside their families last night at their residences in Danhono area of kaduna metropolis,” it stated.
The union leaders strongly condemned the ugly incident and appealed to security agencies in the state to rescue the journalists and their families from the kidnappers.
It was learnt that Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu were abducted along with their wives and children at about 10:30 pm on Saturday.
The armed assailants reportedly stormed Danhonu community in Millennium city of Chikun local government area of Kaduna and headed for the houses of the reporters.
A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday, said the bandits stormed the community and started shooting indiscriminately before the abduction.
“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children,” the source was quoted as saying.
“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”
The source said Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, but the bandits left behind their sick daughter.
“They came around 10:30 pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically. They first burst Aodu’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. They left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air,” the source said.
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