Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have rescued a victim kidnapped in Abuja and arrested one of the suspected kidnappers, recovering three pistols and a Hilux van belonging to the victim in the early hours of Thursday.
ASP Mansur Hassan, the spokesman of the command, explained that the victim, identified as Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters, Area 3, Garki Abuja, was abducted around 5 pm on Tuesday by the suspected kidnappers while he was leaving his home.
According to Hassan, on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call about a kidnapping incident from Abuja, indicating the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
He added that the operatives, at about midnight, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.
To escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the policemen and they responded accordingly.
He further explained: “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 while three others escaped.”
He stated that the vehicle, belonging to the victim, contained two Retay G17 model pistols, one Berretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K. ammunition and five 9mm special ammunition recovered from the kidnappers.
The police spokesman said that preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted at about 5 pm on January 17, 2024, by the kidnappers just as he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.
He explained that the three escapees were Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp Abuja, one Auwal, whose surname is unknown and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained, pointing out that the kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the police.
