MOTORIST EXPERIENCE KIDNAPPERS MENACE

Kidnappings on some highways across the country have reached a crescendo. CHUKWUDI AKASIKE and SIMON UTEBOR capture the shocking stories of some victims of this vicious crime

Throughout the night of May 16, 2019, Angela Nkereuwem, a 21-year-old lady from Mbo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, diligently studied her Economics textbook in preparation for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination holding the following day.

 The next day being May 17, she woke up as the cock in the neighbourhood crowed to prepare her trip to a secondary school in Ikorodu area of Lagos State–venue of the examination.

She exuded confidence because she had read well. Her happiness knew no bounds and in that state of euphoria, she left for the exams centre. But what Nkereuwem did not realise was that trouble was lurking around the corner on that day.

Having finished her paper around 2.30pm, she left for their home in an estate in Ikorodu. She mounted a commercial motorcycle. Not quite five minutes into their journey, a black tinted Sport Utility Vehicle with four occupants on the vehicle pulled through and overtook the bike she was on.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, two men and a woman came out of the vehicle, seized her and used a handkerchief to clean her face. She lost consciousness at that point.

The motorcyclist who carried her to the spot she was abducted was allowed to escape by the kidnappers who appeared not to be interested in doing anything to him.

Nkereuwem said after her abductors used the hanky on her, she did not know anything again, noting that she woke up the following day in the kidnappers’ hideout in a forest along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The victim, who escaped by a whisker, said, “After the kidnappers blocked the motorcycle carrying me home and using a handkerchief to wipe my face, I did not know anything again. I woke up the following day in a thick forest where my captors erected a makeshift structure the next day by 1 am.

“When I woke up, I noticed that the place I found myself was strange. I did not want to talk so that they won’t know I had woken up. When I looked round, I saw other ladies in the vegetable state in that place. I started praying within me that their evil machination would not work.

“As I was praying, an elderly man among them asked those who kidnapped me to bring me to the shrine. I was taken to a shrine in the forest. After making all the necessary incantations, the elderly man, who was like their witch doctor, became furious, saying that my head refused the sacrifice.’’

The lady said she witnessed the killing of three females whose body parts were used for ritual purposes.

According to her, it was where they kept her to be killed the next day that the woman who cooks for the kidnappers came to set her free

DELTANS UNDERMIND THE VALUES OF CHILD RIGHTS- ALDEF

Arrows Leadership Development Foundation a child right NGO organization in Delta State Osubi Effurun -Warri, recently called on the awareness of parents, leaders and the society at large to not forego the importance of child rights in Delta State and the South South region since in comparison to advanced states such as Lagos, the state lacks the presence of child empowerment in-terms of producing Godly and good leadership.

Triumph- Abatan Oluwayomi the founder of the aforesaid organization did cited during his remark that the teenagers should be educated and enlightened with proper understanding of life following the advancement of the era we are which indeed is the third waves era where information and technology is the gate way to success and advancement of life. Stating to this effect are certain challenges he pinpointed especially that of the Niger Delta region which is the priorities of the leaders that are neglected by their nonchalance. Teenagers especially those for elementary and basic standard of education to making proper use of their brains with the understanding of the five senses such as the eyes, nose, ears, tongue and feelings relating to the kinds of things or environment of which they are attached to, for it goes along way to modding their future. Meanwhile, with his experience as a former personal assistant to bishop David Oyedepo and as well once a pastor of the Winners Chapel with divert experience from various countries, he emphasized that young people should be positive.

The chairman of Osubi community, Mr. Paul who was present at the function advised teenagers from ages 13 to 19yrs of age to  do the right thing in the society. Different packages and entertainment were displayed by various performers, a top gospel artiste at the event known as Evander Cleo cheered the crowd with hilarious rap tune by taking the stage to a differ ovation whereby other kids around were encouraged to display their skills especially using the gospel platform.

PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE BOOST SMEs THROUGH TRADE FAIR

Alexis & Cleopatra media limited to boosted the PTI Trade Fair by creating a platform for various SMEs to showcase their activities, the trade fair commenced this Monday morning being the first of July till Friday. Exhibitions are still ongoing as various SMEs( small medium enterprises) within the Warri and its environs to partake for since it is a medium for immense reach-out.
Good are sold at affordable rates whereby individuals are as well encouraged to patronize this event so as to getting cheaper products before it runs out on Friday.

Fact has it that SMEs is the threshold of any surviving economy in the world but here in Nigeria which to say this lucrative venture to boosting employment in the country is not encouraged by the government. History has it that no government in the world can guaranty its citizens with 50 or 60% employment with the empowerment of SMEs, for instance China is the world leading economy today because of commerce