JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap two journalists, wives in Kaduna

Gunmen on Saturday night invaded Dahjonu community in Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists -Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspaper and Blueprint newspaper’s AbdulRaheem Abdu as well as their wives and children.

Alabelewe is the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.

One of the victims’ family members, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits invaded the area around 10.30 pm and shot indiscriminately before carrying out their act.

Olayemi said the bandits kidnapped Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children, while Aodu and his wife, who was also sick, were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter.

He said, “initially, they picked Abdulgafar, his wife, and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return with one of the children and left with Abdulgafar, his wife, and two children.

“They shattered their doors and windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”

Olayemi, who is also a neighbour to the victims, added, “they came around 10:30 pm on Saturday and started shooting indiscriminately.

“They first forced 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 and left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comments as his telephone line was not connecting.