News Investigators/ The Police, on Thursday, engaged some kidnappers in hot exchanges of gunfire as they rescued an Abuja resident, Segun Akinyemi, who was abducted and was reportedly being taken away to Kano State.
Reports indicated that Mr. Akinyemi was taken hostage by the criminal gang as he was driving out of his Abuja residence.
Luck reportedly smiled on him as the police swooped on the kidnappers who were already out of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) en route to Kano.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan, said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
According to him, the Command was alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna, adding; “The Operatives, about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.”
He further said; “On sensing danger and in their effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, Flat 2 FCDA Quarters, Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested.”
The police said the three other suspects who escaped are being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers.
Mr. Hassan, assistant superintendent of police, said preliminary inquiries showed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024, by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.
He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Audu Ali Dabigi, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.
He also urged members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress calls that require prompt responses.
(Conclaves)
