International
Rights Lawyer Condemns Kidnap Of Capt Mehrtens By Separatist Rebels In Papau, Indonesia
Rights Lawyer Condemns Kidnap Of Capt Mehrtens By Separatist Rebels In Papau, Indonesia
By: Michael Mike
Human Right Activist and lawyer, Maryam Musa Sambo has condemn in strong words and terms the kidnapping and hostage taking of Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, by the armed Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua province.
Barrister Sambo who is also a member of the Internnational Federation of Women (FIDA) Lawyers, described the kidnap of Captain Mehrtens as cruel, inhumane, degrading and a flagrant violation of his fundamental human rights which is enshrined in several international Laws.
She appealed to the group to release the pilot in respect for human rights and so he can reunite with his family.
“I therefore Appeal to the Armed Separatist Group led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the pilot from their custody out of respect for Human Dignity, Human Values and Human Rights. I am equally positive that Nigeria as a country with strong diplomatic ties with Indonesia will support and provide all the necessary help the Republic of Indonesia will need to tackle this menace,” she pleaded.
It would be recalled that Phillip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, in February was abducted by independence fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, who stormed his single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro in remote Nduga district.
The plane, carrying five passengers, was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers who had been building a health center in Paro after a group of separatist rebels led by Egianus Kogoya threatened to kill them, said Nduga district chief Namia Gwijangge.
In a statement by Rights lawyer, Barrister Sambo on Thursday in Abuja, she said: “The recent Kidnaping and hostage taking of Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtems, a pilot for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Airways is one of the most recent insurgence of the Armed Separatist Group.
“The incident is said to be part of the “Free Papua Movement” as was later confirmed by the leader of the Armed Separatist Group Egianus Kogoya when he said in a video with a man standing next to him that;
“I took him (Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens) hostage for Papua Independence not for food or drinks. He will be safe with me as long as Indonesia does not use its arms, either from the air or on the ground”.
Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region released a video Wednesday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February saying that recent Indonesian military attacks threatened his safety.
Papua Province was incorporated into the Republic of Indonesia in 1969 after a United Nation’s sponsored ballot. Since then, a low-level of insurgency has simmered within the province.
According to Sambo, It is therefore clear that no person shall be subjected to such cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.
She stated: “Some of these rights are expressly captured and unambiguously stated in Article 1, Article 3, Article 5 and Article 12 of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 4, Article 5 and 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) also in strong terms protects the Fundamental Rights of individuals as enshrined in Section 34 and 35 of the constitution.
“All the above cited laws frowns against the violation of the Right to Respect and Integrity of a Person, Right to Respect and Dignity inherent in a person, Right to personal Liberty, Freedom of Movement, Right to best attainable state of Physical and Mental Health.
“It is also worthy of note that Kidnapping is a capital offence contained in Nigerian Criminal (substantive) Laws of various states of the nation, which carries the maximum punishment of life imprisonment. It is insensitive, unacceptable, illegal and totally unreasonable to take a person hostage in what so ever guise.
“Papua is a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia and that is not going to change by breaking the Law and outright disregard and violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of innocent people”.
In the video sent to media by the spokesperson of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, known as OPM, a man in handcuffs and a black shirt is identified as Philip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the group’s independence fighters.
Sitting on a wooden log and flanked by two men, apparently members of the group, he said in the video recorded Monday: “It’s almost three months since OPM kidnapped me from Paro. As you can see, I’m still alive and I’m healthy and eating well.”
Sambo said earlier the rebels carried out the attack in retaliation for Indonesia’s “massive military operation” in Papua and the killings of two rebels in a shootout with security forces last month.
While living with his abductors, but lately he has been worried about military attacks launched by the Indonesian army following a deadly ambush by the rebels on April 15 that killed at least five Indonesian soldiers who were deployed to rescue him.
The five Indonesian army troops were killed after rebels attacked 36 soldiers in Nduga district in Papua Highlands province.
The kidnapping of the pilot was the second that independence fighters have committed since 1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma. Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months.
The pilot kidnapping reflects the deteriorating security situation in Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia.
Sambo, prayed that the victim of this heinous crime Captain Phillip Mehrtens be released so that he will re-unite with his family as soon as humanly possible and in good health too.
Rights Lawyer Condemns Kidnap Of Capt Mehrtens By Separatist Rebels In Papau, Indonesia
Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has expressed profound sorrow at the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88 years.
The departed Holy Father, the political head of Vatican City and the head of the Catholic Church, was described in the statement as a global moral leader whose papacy was marked by humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and the dignity of all people.
The statement read: “Nigeria commiserates with the teaming population of the catholic church in the country and joins the international community, particularly the Catholic faithful worldwide, in mourning this immense loss. Pope Francis’ deep concern for the marginalized; including refugees, the poor, and victims of conflict, resonated strongly in Nigeria, where his calls for interreligious harmony and solidarity were a beacon of hope amid challenges.
“His historic 2022 apology for the Church’s role in colonial injustices, including the suffering of Indigenous peoples, indeed set a powerful example of reconciliation. Also worthy of commendation is his advocacy for peace in Africa, and other conflict areas in the world, reflecting his universal pastoral mission.”
The statement further read that: “In this moment of grief, therefore, Nigeria extends heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the Argentine people, who gifted the world this extraordinary pontiff.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and trust that his legacy of mercy, dialogue, and care for our common home will endure.”
Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis
Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected abduction occurred on April 18, 2025, when Mr. Yangi Ming, a Chinese national working at Panda Supermarket in Jabi, was reportedly abducted by unknown individuals.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that Mr Yangi Ming left his residence at Stargate Apartment in Durumi around 1700hrs and was last seen wearing brown shorts and a black polo shirt.
His sister, Aisha Pan, residing in Sharanda, Kano State, later received a ransom demand of ₦300 million, made from Yangi Ming’s mobile phone number.
Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom
India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two siblings at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during a planned travel to India with 5 kilogrammes of cocaine.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said: “Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two brothers: John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos with 5 kilogrammes cocaine concealed in walls of their suitcases while attempting to board a flight to India.”
He said the two brothers were arrested at the Lagos airport last Thursday following proactive processing of credible intelligence. He said they claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment but when their suitcases were thoroughly searched by NDLEA officers, whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine were discovered on the walls of their bags.
Babafemi said in a similar development, NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command same day, Thursday intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian – British man, Parker Osei with 36 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 19.4 kilogrammes packed in a giant travelling bag. The suspect who claims he is a student of Computer Science at East London University, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport.
In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria.
NDLEA operatives in Kogi state have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Ngozi Ogili while moving 3 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. She was nabbed in a commercial transport bus along Okene-Lokoja highway last Monday. Babafemi said a follow up operation at her point of delivery in Apo mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of quantities of Loud and Colorado, both synthetic strains of cannabis.
In Abia state, NDLEA officers on Saturday arrested a 75-year-old grandpa, Nnanna Felix with 1.6 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West local government area, while another suspect David Chinemerem, 21, was nabbed with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode road, Aba last Tuesday.
No fewer than 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu along Potiskum-Damaturu road, Yobe state by NDLEA operatives on Saturday, just as raid operations at Osogbo motor park, Onitsha and a house at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra state led to the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the seizure of 195,000 pills of tramadol. Also arrested during the raid at the motor park was Ugochukwu Ojalanonye with 4.2 kilogrammes codeine syrup and 5.4kg pentazocine.
In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, NDLEA operatives last Thursday arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu with 25 kilogrammes skunk and 90.4 grammes of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Wuse market Abuja, while two women: Faith Etim, 64, and Victoria Etim, 40, were nabbed lasr Friday when NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army raided cannabis plantations in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State where 250,000 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant were destroyed on over 100 hectares of farm land.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Yobe, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Cross River and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport
Police arrest two suspected informants to bandits in Kwara
Army troops rescue Deputy Commander of NDLEA officer, five others from kidnappers in Taraba
Rival gangs clash at wedding, one dead in Kontagora, Niger State
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