Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja and  Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Operatives of Kogi State Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilance Group, has killed two kidnappers, rescued one victim and recovered one AK 49 Rifle with 14 Rounds of live ammunition.

This is just as Kwara State Police Command yesterday paraded six suspected kidnappers that have been terrorising the people of Kwara South senatorial district of the state.

The  killing of the two kidnappers was disclosed in a press statement signed yesterday by the Police Public Relation Officer, CSP. William Ayah, in Lokoja. 

The statement reads: “In compliance with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP. Onuoha Bethrand, to sustain the tempo on the ongoing onslaughts against criminal elements and to deny them safe haven in the state.

“The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Ife-Olukotun in an intelligence-led operation in collaboration with the local vigilantes rescued one kidnapped victim, neutralised two kidnappers and recovers one AK 49 rifle with 14 rounds of live ammunition.

“This was sequence to a report that some hoodlums invaded a Camp of one Yahaya of Igbo-Ero in Ife-Olukotun and kidnapped him.”

It was further revealed that the hoodlums kidnapped another victim which they later released after robbing him of one ram.

“The divisional police officer promptly swung into action, mobilised team of operatives in collaboration with the local vigilantes following intelligence stormed their hideout. On sighting the joint team, the hoodlums opened fire on them.

“During the gun duel that ensued, two suspected kidnappers were neutralised, the victim was rescued and one AK 49 rifle with 14 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. While other suspects escaped with bullet wounds. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, the statement said.

The commissioner of police while commending the joint police and vigilantes’ team for the break through reiterated his determination to sustain the ongoing onslaughts against criminal elements and to deny them safe heaven to operate in the state.

The commissioner enjoined members of the public to continue to collaborate with the security forces to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the state. 

Meanwhile, Kwara State Police Command yesterday paraded six suspected kidnappers that have been terrorising the people of Kwara South senatorial district of the state.

Parading the suspects in Ilorin yesterday, the state Police Commissioner, Mrs. Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, stated that “the suspected kidnappers, who allegedly killed their victims, were arrested with exhibits such as five cutlasses, criminal charms, different phones, one locally-made pistol with two live ammunition and one expended ammunition of a revolver.”

She said: “On July 13, 2023, at approximately 1700hrs, one Abubakar Haruna alias Muslim, and one Kayode Musa were driving from Oke-Onigbin to Isanlu-Isin in a Toyota Camry when a group of armed men suspected to be

Bororo Fulani emerged from the bush and abducted them and disappeared into the bush.

“While effort to rescue the victims were in progress, On July 21, 2023, at about 0630hrs, a team of police officers, local vigilantes, and hunters already on search of the victims were met with hails of gunshots, and in a bid to escape being captured, the suspects shot and killed their two victims and escaped into the bush, some of them with bullet injuries while Ajide Abiodun Olaoluwa, one of the victims, was rescued alive.

“In furtherance of the effort by the police to get the kidnappers arrested, the police, hunters and vigilante stormed the forests between Ijara-Isin and Isanlu-Isin, where intelligence revealed that the kidnappers were hiding and got the above suspects arrested with their weapons.”

Adelesi also paraded five suspects arrested for criminal conspiracy and theft of electricity cables, adding that “the suspects were reportedly arrested with bunches of cables.

“On July 24, 2023, at around 0430hrs, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad got intelligence that a man was transporting bundles of cable wires along Tanke Area of Ilorin.

“A team of police was dispatched to the scene and one Awokunle Gideon was arrested with bunches of stolen NEPA cables. Investigation led to the arrest of his receivers.

“The suspects would be arraigned at the completion of the investigation.”

Adelesi, however, identified alleged collaboration of indigenes and kidnap suspects as one of the major reasons for cases of kidnapping in the state, particularly in the Kwara South senatorial district of the state recently.