Skip to main content

NIGERIA: Nigerian army: Ian Squire kidnapper killed

courtesy : Squire Family 
Ian Squire was kidnapped in southern Nigeria in October last year 

The leader of a Nigerian gang responsible for the death of a British aid worker has been killed, according to the Nigerian army.
A manhunt for gang leader Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo, known as Karowei, had been under way in southern Nigeria since last year.
He coordinated the kidnap of four British missionaries in October.
Three were released but one man, Ian Squire, was shot dead in captivity.
Kidnapping for ransom is common in southern Nigeria though most often those taken are freed after a ransom is paid.
The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to much of Delta state, saying there is a "high threat of criminal kidnap".

A special military task force said it arrested the gang leader in a village.

As the task force led him back to his camp they were ambushed and in the fighting, Karowei was killed, the army said.

The BBC's Stephanie Hegarty in Lagos says that until the kidnapping, the gang was relatively unknown. It had a reputation for hassling local women returning from the market and had abducted the wife of a local politician.
Ian Squire, an optician, ran a practice in Shepperton, Surrey and locals told the BBC he travelled to Africa every year to carry out charity work.
He was one of four medical workers who were kidnapped when the gang stormed the rural community of Enekorogha on 13 October 2017.
Mr Squire's friend Paul Allan, who ran a neighbouring business, described him as a "good friend" and a "very straightforward, nice, gentle guy".

Source: BBC 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

90-year-old tourist killed after being attacked by crocodiles while on inflatable boat in Zimbabwe

The attack took place in crocodile hatching season (file photo) Getty images Crocodile attacks tend to spike around this time of year as hatchlings emerge and females leave their nests, which they have guarded without eating for three months. Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said: “The crocodiles attacked the air-pumped boat they were using until it punctured. Their colleagues noticed that they were struggling and drove to seek help “When the park rangers arrived at the dam, Bowman and Mitchell were still under attack from the crocodiles  “The rangers had to shoot at the crocodiles to disperse them and rescue the two and take them to hospital where Bowman died before arrival. Mitchell has life-threatening injuries and remains in intensive care unit in Bulawayo.” Crocodiles typically grab their prey by a limb and spin them in a “death roll” which subdues the victim by drowning. Source: Independent 
Post a Comment
Read more

Ex-VP Mujuru 'was hit on the cheek with a stone by Zanu-PF activist': Spokesperson

Harare - A Zimbabwean opposition leader and her entourage were Thursday attacked with stones by suspected ruling party activists in Harare, her party said. Joice Mujuru, a former vice president of the country who is now leader of the National People's Party (NPP), and her supporters were pelted while on the campaign trail. Zimbabwe is due to hold general elections before July - the first polls since independence hero Robert Mugabe was ousted after 37 years in power. Mujuru is one of the prominent contenders. Mujuru was hit on the cheek with a stone and later addressed a rally in the working class suburb of Glen Norah after she received medical treatment, her spokesperson said. Mujuru "was going to address a rally ...she passed through a shopping centre and when people realised it was her, they came out of the shops to cheer her", Jeffryson Chitando told AFP. "She got out of her car and greeted the people, and that is when Zanu-PF (activists) started thro...
Post a Comment
Read more

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe opposition leader dies in US helicopter crash

Albuquerque — Authorities in the US state of New Mexico say key Zimbabwean opposition leader Roy Bennett has been killed in a helicopter crash. State Police Lieutenant Elizabeth Armijo confirmed Bennett's death on Thursday, a day after a helicopter carrying him and five others went down in a mountainous rural area of northern New Mexico. Obert Gutu, spokesman for the MDC-T opposition party, said the loss of Bennett, a white man who spoke fluent Shona and drew the wrath of former President Robert Mugabe, was tragic. Gutu says Bennett's wife, Heather, also died. The crash killed five and injured a sixth person aboard. The helicopter went down about 6 p.m. Wednesday near the Colorado state line. Armijo said no additional information was immediately available about the circumstances of the crash.
Post a Comment
Read more