Operatives of the Lagos state Police Command have neutralized 9 suspected kidnappers after foiling an attempt by the gang to abduct some high net-worth individuals in the state.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Friday by the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.
He said that the foiled kidnap attempt on Thursday, 4th July, as well as the elimination of some of the abductors, which is considered by the Command as a major breakthrough, is as a result of intelligence gathering assets, which yielded very credible and actionable intelligence about the planned activities of the dangerous and notorious gang.
According to Hundeyin, the police chief in the state, CP Adegoke Fayoade, upon receipt of this intelligence about two weeks ago, directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence work on it.
They followed up closely, monitored dutifully and were able to determine that the gang was going to strike yesterday in Ladipo area of Lagos State. “With the benefit of this information, we were able to proactively prepare for them and more or less laid an ambush for them”, he said.
Although taken unawares by the security operatives, the kidnappers, unrelenting, engaged the police officers in a shoot-out.
“They of course bowed to the superior fire power of the police. Nine of them were neutralized while two escaped with gunshot injuries. Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi automatic pistols, nine AK-47 magazines, 3 walkie-talkies, 1 POS machine and a loud speaker were recovered from them”
Other recovered items include their two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350, while investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Police spokesman further revealed that the Command had been on the trail of the gang for over eight months, for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos State.
“We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end”, he said.
“This breakthrough is in addition to several other breakthroughs we have made in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes. Many of these were not made public so as to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available”, Hundeyin disclosed.
The command urged the general public including medical practitioners to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and promptly inform the nearest police station or call any of its emergency numbers if they come across any.
The command also called on other well meaning Lagosians not to hesitate in providing information when they suspect anything amiss around them to its operatives act appropriately and swiftly, while promising that its operatives will continue to prioritize the safety and security of residents of the state.
