The Police has rescued one Segun Akinyemi who was kidnapped in Abuja and was being transported to Kano State.
The rescue mission led to a heated gunfire exchange between the Police and the kidnap gang on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
It was gathered that Akinyemi, who was kidnapped as he was driving out of his house, was being moved to Kano when the police swooped on them.
According to Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
“The Operatives, at 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,” the Police spokesperson said.
“On sensing danger and in an 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,” he said.
The police spokesperson 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 ammunitions were recovered from the kidnappers.
He noted that preliminary inquiries revealed 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.
The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.
He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response.
