John Shiklam in Kaduna
The police in Kaduna State have rescued an Abuja kidnap victim, recovered his vehicle, and arrested one of the kidnappers.
In a statement issued yesterday by the state Police Command spokesperson, Mr. Mansur Hassan, he said the kidnapping incident took place in Abuja, adding that the criminals, who were taking their victim to Kano State, were intercepted in Kaduna through distress calls to the Kawo Divisional Police Station in Kaduna.
Hassan said the police received information that the kidnappers and their victim were driving in a Toyota Hilux van belonging to the victim.
He said: “On January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident in Abuja indicating that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.”
Hassan said that 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 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 that 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 police spokesperson, “preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted at about 1700 hours on January 17, 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, while commending the operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the state.
Ali called on the members of the public to avail themselves with security agencies hotlines for any distress call requiring prompt response.
