AFRICA

Kaduna Police Rescue Abuja Kidnap Victim, Arrests Suspect

The police in Kaduna have rescued an Abuja kidnap victim, recovered his vehicle and arrested one of the kidnappers.
In a statement on Thursday Mansur Hassan, the spokesperson of the command, said the kidnapping incident took place in Abuja, adding that the criminals who were taking their victim to Kano were intercepted in Kaduna after distress calls to the Kawo Divisional Police Station in Kaduna.
He said the police received information that the kidnappers and their victim were driving in a Toyota Hilux van belonging to the victim.
“On the 18th January, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident in Abuja indicating the that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna”, the statement said.
Hassan said at about 10 minutes after midnight, police operatives blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van, with registration number: Abuja RBC 90 BC, conveying five passengers including the driver, suspected to be the kidnappers and their victim.
According to the statement, on sighting the police, one of the kidnappers fire and a gun duel ensued with the police.
Hassan 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 years old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja was arrested while three others escaped although trailed.”
The statement said items recovered from the kidnappers by the police, include,
“the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistol, one Berretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions and five 9mm special ammunitions”.
According to the policespokesperson, “preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted at about 1700 hours on the 17th January, 2024 by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.
“The three escapees were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
“The kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the police.
“The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, psc 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 with security agencies hotlines for any distress call requiring prompt response.”

By John Shiklam in Kaduna