HOODLUMS went on the rampage in Edo And Abia states at the weekend as they kidnapped Mrs. Abiola Omobude, wife of the General Overseer of the New Covenant Gospel Church, Pastor Felix Omobude and his niece and killed two policemen and MTN sub-contractors.



advertisement

Those, who took Mrs. Omobude hostage at 3 a.m. yesterday, are reportedly demanding a ransom of $100,000.

The clergyman is said to have travelled overseas and is expected home today.

A family member, who sought for anonymity, said at the time of kidnap, there were supposed to be two policemen on routine duty.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Awhara Ejiroro, confirmed the incident but declined to give details.

Meanwhile, the murder of six sub-contractors carrying out maintenance at MTN Base Transmission Station in Aba, Abia State at the weekend has been condemned by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

It described the incident as one two many, which it said does not portray the country in good light and a serious disincentive to investment.

ATCON President, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, in a statement yesterday, said it was "one murder too callous to be regarded as one of the usual stories."

While commiserating with MTN and the families of the victims, Omo-Ettu urged the Federal Government to wade into incessant killings and kidnappings in the country.

He said: "We invite the attention of Federal Government to this murders and kidnappings, which are portraying the government as helpless. The essence of governance is appearing to be meaningless while living and investing in the country may be becoming anathema to all peoples of the world."

Omo-Ettu pledged ATCON"s support for the police in the course of investigating the incident.

"We urge the new Inspector-General of Police to see this as one case which requires speedy investigation and prosecution of those found culpable as this will determine where we go from here. Criminal acts of this nature have been encouraged because perpetrators are hardly ever caught and prosecuted," he said.

However, a report from MTN"s Project Management office in Aba, explained that four gunmen attacked the engineers and standby mobile police officers guarding the experts working at the base station located at Gabby Oil, Aba Road, in an attempt to rob them and when they failed they opened fire on them.

The statement said an engineer working for Ericsson Nigeria, the driver, two mobile policemen, rigger on the tower as well as the site security guard were engaged in different activities when the gunmen got to the site.

Narrating the case, the project manager, simply identified as Valentine, said: "Our team of engineers went to work at Gabby Oil, Aba Road, Aba, Abia State and while working on the generating plant, four gunmen walked into the site while the team of engineers were waiting for the RBS to load after bringing up the plant and held them at gunpoint.

"The gunmen asked for Petroseal car key, but apparently could not get it because the person with it went to the hood to use the toilet. The gunmen, still holding everyone at gunpoint, asked for the car key inside the BTS site and immediately the Petrolseal engineer told them that the person with the key went out to buy something and knowing full well that the mobile policeman was inside the shelter alongside the Ericsson and Petroseal officials.

"The gunmen felt threatened and opened fire on everyone in the BTS site, and also came outside and shot the rigger on the tower while the other Ericsson engineer and his driver ran behind the RBS units in the site, so the fired bullets missed them," he stated.

Valentine further said the hoodlums came outside the shelter and saw "one of our Petrolseal personnel and demanded for the car key. The technician told them that he did not have the key, so they collected the key that they found on him which was the site key - one Abloy and another CISA key. They went into the car and tried to start the car but couldn't. Then gunshots were heard from afar. It was a group of mobile military men coming their way, so the robbers ran away.

He said the technician, the Ericsson engineer and the driver were the only survivors of the sporadic firing, while six others (one Petrolseal engineer, two Mopol men, the rigger and the security man) died instantly.

The second Petrolseal engineer later died on arrival at the hospital. All bodies have been taken to the mortuary.

When contacted, a senior official of MTN, confirmed the incident and lamented the insecurity under which the telecommunication firms work.