Among the things year 2008 will be remembered for, kidnapping should top the list – for good or bad. Yes, it was the year of landmark judgements that upturned spurious electoral victories of politicians, notably, governors.

It was, also, the year of great concern over the health or otherwise of the president of Nigeria, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua. But none of this compares to the attention-grabbing escapades of militants in the Niger Delta who took the art of kidnapping to a totally different level.

When the first case of kidnapping broke in early 2007, nobody thought it would last long. The hostages takers, many felt at the time, were just not professional enough to follow through a second, third or even fourth operations. But the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who claimed responsibilty for the first kidnap proved it meant business.

In no time, the kidnappers got their ransom, though the concerned state and federal government never owned up to paying a dime to the abductors to free the hostages. The subsequent release of the first ever hostages – mostly expatriate staff of an oil company in Port Harcourt – was the signal for other would-be abductors to go to their drawing boards. True, before the end of the first quarter of 2007, several more cases of kidnapping had been reported in the media. Many more people had been taken hostage. More money had been paid and many more people had died. All that was in 2007.

But it was 2008 that cases of kidnapping or attempted kidnapping got the headlines such that hardly any week went by without one or two persons rustled from sleep and hustled from their homes to unknown destinations or the kidnapper’s hideouts. At the last count, no fewer than 500 Nigerians and expatriate staff have been victims of kidnappers. Some put the figure much higher – for the simple reason that not all cases of kidnapping are reported or made public.

While MEND can be credited with the majority of abductions in the Niger Delta, other fringe bodies and associations soon joined in, thus surpassing, at one time, the record of criminal gangs in Colombia, a country that was once famous as the abduction capital of the world.
What also distinguished the Nigerian kidnapper from other countries is their choice of victims. While abductors in Bogota would never put a gun to an old woman’s face or force a minor into a van, their Nigerian counterpart had no such finesse. To them, nobody was untouchable – arthritic grandfathers, wobbly grandmamas, children in their cots, students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, just name it.

Bizarrely, abductors turned their attention to newly-weds, pregnant women, only son or daughter of rich parents or a valued employee or expatrate. Also, they concentrated mostly on politicians, or those they felt could afford their ransom. Even Professor Dora Akunyili’s son was once waylaid, so it was rumoured, by would-be kidnappers. What about fathers and mothers of prominent people like the ageing father of Secretary to the Delta State Government? Or the lawmaker in Anambra state? Though in the case the lawmaker he was kidnapped, supposedly, to redeem a debt he owed his abductors.

The list is endless, and as 2008 rolled on, more attempts – successful or failed – were reported elsewhere in the country, but mostly in the littoral states. Below is a compilation of some of the widely reported kidnappings in 2008, thus making it the worst year of abductions in Nigeria’s history. Though cases of abduction were not as rife as they were in the first or second quarter of this year, it became very rampant from mid year until the last reported case early this month, confirming it as the year of kidnappers. Thank God its all over. But will 2009 also be a year of abductors? Only time will tell.

Militants kidnap Delta
State SSG’s father, demand N500m ransom.
Stern-looking militants in commando style abducted the father of the Secretary to Delta State Government, (SSG), Chief Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, at his country home, Boji-Boji Owa, in the Ika North East Local Government of area of the state.

Chief Okowa was said to have been kidnapped at his residence after returning from church. The 75-year-old man was at home with a little boy when the abductors came, arrested the little boy, tied and locked him up in one of the rooms in the house before they (the kidnappers) took the old man away at about 11am.
Chief Okowa was said to have been driven away by his kidnappers in his own private Kia car sandwiched between two of the kidnappers at the back seat while the remaining two occupied the front seat as they drove away.

Four young men kidnap / 75-year-old grandma
Four young men would have to work very hard, even after serving their various jail terms, to appease a 75 year-old woman who is old enough to be their grand mother, to remove the curses she has placed on them.
The furious grandma, Ezeine Sarah Nwakudu, said it would not be well with these young men, three of them in their early 20s and the other, a 30-year-old man, for kidnapping her and demanding N200million ransom, stealing from her and inflicting pains on her for no just cause.
Grandma Nwakudu, who hails from Amawon, Ikwena Local government Council of Abia State, said she found it difficult to refrain from cursing these men who are young enough to be her grand children, for taking her captive, an act she described as satanic.

Narrating her experience , Grandma Nkwandu said: “I heard some people outside shouting. I thought they were fighting, so I had to open the door. Immediately I opened the door, somebody grabbed me. I struggled with him and he threw me down and pointed a gun at me, asked me to give them money. After giving them money, they asked for my car key. I brought out the car key.
By this time, I was half-naked because I tied wrapper on my waist. I was from the bathroom. They dragged me, I gave them the money and they ransacked my boxes and my room. They carried some amount. I gave them N23,000 and took away monies that belonged to the women group.

Gangsters kill & kidnap eight more foreigners
Two civilians were feared killed and another eight foreign oil workers kidnapped when gun-wielding gangsters attacked a Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker near the Bonny Island in Rivers state . This is following last Thursday kidnap of five Russians and Friday’s snatching of two - one from the Phillipines and the other a Nigerian.

Omehia weeps at truth commission over mum’s abduction
Ousted governor of Rivers State, Chief Celestine Omehia, wept profusely while recalling the chilling story of his kidnapped mother before the state’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The former governor wept while narrating the story of the kidnap of his mother by militia groups in the state, but denied paying any ransom to secure her release.

Lulu Briggs’ house attacked, wife Seinye abducted
Gunmen attacked the Port Harcourt residence of Chief O. B. Lulu Briggs and abducted his wife, Seinye. Chief &Mrs O. B. Lulu Briggs are well known private and corporate philantropists as well as ardent supporters of peace, rule of law and improvement of general living conditions in the Niger Delta region.

Everton and Nigerian international, Yobo's brother kidnapped
For Joseph Yobo’s brother, Norum Yobo, who was kidnapped as he left Illusions niteclub in Port Harcourt, it was certainly no illusion. Norum was dragged from his car and taken away by the abductors. He was one of the three men taken at gunpoint around 4am.
The other two, Barry C Lakara and Ifeanyi Nwa were later released, fuelling fears that his family connection to the Blues defender may have made him a target. At the time of the abduction, Joseph Yobo was on holidays in Nigeria.

Gunmen kidnap three Chinese workers
Unknown gunmen have kidnapped three Chinese construction workers in Calabar, Cross River state capital . They were kidnapped near the compound of their employers, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Chinese workers employed in construction or oil firms have been abducted in the past but later released .

Gunmen kidnap octogenerian mother of Ruth Benamesia
Unidentified gunmen struck at the the coastal community of Asamabiri, Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa state, kidnapping Mrs Accraere Benamesia , mother of the former coordinator of the state government anti-piracy outfit, code named “Bayelsa Volunteer.” Fondly called mama, Madam Benamesia who is suffering from arthritis was abducted from her country home at Asamabiri. The abductors of the octogenerian were believed to have stormed Asamabiri through the Niger River in a speed boat.

Kidnapped man dies
It was a sad end for Mr Njor Amadi as gunmen who abducted him at Rumuolumeni near Port Harcourt, Rivers state dumped his dead body at a site for the family. The family now mourning him recorded a double loss as the gunmen, who demanded N8 m ransome for Amadi’s release, had collected part of the money and arranged for a place where the family could re-unite with him. This was not to be as anxious members of the victim rushed to the agreed place but met his lifeless body.

Two pastors docked for murder
Two pastors in Udu Local government Area of Delta State were arrested by the police in connection with the murder of an 11-year-old girl Loveth Balogun. Loveth was reported beheaded by her uncle, who lured her under the pretext that he wanted to send her on an errand. He took her to a nearby bush where he cut off her head and abandoned her headless body. He made away with the head hidden in a shopping bag.

Death of 5 kids in car booth
Five children of same parent were found dead in the booth of their father’s car, the sixth child narrowly escaped death because they were discovered on time. The mysterious death of the five girls occurred after their parents had gone out for the day’s business. A man was said to have come to the house, lured the children into the booth of the car and went away without anyone discovering the nefarious act he had committed. The victims are, Simbiat, Delital, Khadijat and Safiyal. Rashidat, the sixth girl, was the only one that survived the incident.

‘I killed my husband in error’
The late Ibrahim met his death in error after his nursing mother wife stabbed him for allegedly straying into the laps of a mistress in Lafia.
The late Ibrahim was once a fire-brand preacher and pastor in a Pentecostal church at Akeleku, he however dumped the pulpit some years back for a career in herbal practice. Events leading to the death of Ibrahim started when his friend informed his wife of her husband’s philandering with another girl. He was alleged to have rented an apartment for the girlfriend. The argument that ensued between the husband and wife afterwards led to the stabbing of the man to death.

Murder so cruel
George Mordi, a popular presenter of kiddies programme on NTA Asaba, from Ebu village in Oshimili North LGA met untimely death on the day that was supposed to be his happiest. Mordi, a 23-year-old graduate of Public Administration from Madonna University, was shot by a police patrol team in Lagos where he went to collect his appointment letter from a bank. Mrs. Rita Mordi, his mother said his son who had gone to Lagos to collect his letter of appointment from the ban never made it home alive on the day that was his happiest. George bled to death after the patrol team that shot him fled the scene.

Reported rape cases
Also in 2008, the country witnessed incidences of rape. Indeed while some made headlines, quite some number might have gone unreported.

Man rapes 3 kids of same parents on same day
Assai, a 25-year-old Ghanaian waiter at a satellite restaurant took three kids of the same parents to his room and had sex with them, one after another. The three children are aged between two and six years.
One afternoon, while the mother of the children, who is nursing a new baby, was outside the compound and doing some laundry, Assai was inside committing the nefarious act. It was the painful scream of one of the children that attracted the mother from where she was hanging cloths. A preliminary medical examination revealed that Assai forcefully penetrated the kids.

Two-years old girl raped by spare parts dealer
Nkemji, a spare parts dealer in Apapa area of Lagos, on April 27, dashed Mrs. Onu’s hope of raising a virgin, by violating her two-year-old daughter, Ojemene. Mrs. Onu discovered the criminal act the following day when the girl could not stand properly during the usual morning bath due to pain. It was when she raised alarm and the little girl confessed that Nkemji violated her.

Man, 65, rapes neighbour’s
3-yr-old daughter
Shock, grief and outrage were the three words that best described the mood in Rogo town in the outskirts of Kano when Musa Natraha, a 65-year-old man defiled an innocent three-year-old Surayya. He lured her with two balls of caked beans (akara) known in Hausa language as Kosai. He took the girl to his room where he undressed and forcefully penetrated her. The baby cried all through the act.

Little devils!
Six boys aged between 11 to 14 years raped 11-yr-old girl in graveyard.
The boys, fit to be described as little devils, raped Jelilatu Suleiman, an 11-year-old girl in Offa Atipe area of Agugu in Ibadan.
The boys took advantage of their victim at a burial ground beside Ajegdede River. Jelilatu who was lured to the site by one Wasilatu Taofeek, her friend had her eyes rubbed with balm while four boys held her down and another climbed on her. It was her scream that attracted an aunt of hers who was close to the scene at the time of the incident. She followed the noise and discovered the six boys who were in the thick of the action.

Raped to death by pastor inside the church
Eleven-year-old Covenant Elijah met her untimely death in the most unlikely place and hand of the most unlikely man, at a church and in the hands of a pastor. Covenant is a JJS 1 Student of Caritas Model College, Onireke, and Trouble started for Covenant who was a cool-headed girl and bright when a prophetess, Mrs. Bassey Arik told her widowed mother that Coveanant was possessed with demon. Palpable fear drove her to the hand of a pastor at Miracle Deliverance Ministry in Ojo area of Lagos. She was told that a three-day deliverance session would be conducted for the child and that the service would cost N2, 000. She returned three days later to discover that her daughter had been raped to death by the pastor.