Nigeria: Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Recover N7.9m in Ogun
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
In a successful rescue operation, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command neutralized two kidnappers who had been terrorizing travelers on the Sagamu Ijebu-Ode-Benin expressway. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the police engaged the kidnappers in a gunfight. Along with the elimination of the criminals, the police also recovered N7.9 million and 1500 Indian Rupees, suspected to have been part of the ransom collected from their victims.
The rescue operation, which took place around 4:30 pm, was conducted with the support of local vigilantes. As a result of the operation, three Indian nationals who had been abducted on May 3rd were released unharmed. The rescued individuals were identified as Tejaram Chauhan, Kaduwal Pradhan, and Medani Kathiwada.
According to SP Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, the rescue operation was initiated after the Manager of Breeze Company Nigeria Limited made a distress call to the DPO of Mowe Divisional headquarters. The manager reported that on May 3rd, a gang of kidnappers opened fire on two Hilux buses carrying about sixteen passengers at Kajola junction along the Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta expressway.
The police, along with other local security agents, immediately launched a search operation in the area. A fierce gun battle ensued between the police and the kidnappers in the forest along the Benin-Sagamu Papalanto route at around 1630hrs on May 7th. The police successfully rescued the victims without any injuries.
During the encounter, two of the six kidnappers were neutralized, and the police seized two AK 47 rifles, one single barrel locally made gun, one sword, a cell phone, criminal charms, and 65 rounds of ammunition. The police also recovered a sum of N7.9 million and 1,500 Rupees, believed to be part of the ransom.
The two neutralized kidnappers have been taken to the public mortuary, while efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining four members of the gang.
In a related incident, the police confirmed the abduction of seven travelers and the murder of another on May 3rd on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway. The gunmen, numbering about seven, ambushed and attacked the travelers between the Ilisan, Ceplast industry, and Iperu junction axis of the expressway.
The State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has directed tactical commanders and the mobile squadron to track down the criminals and bring them to justice. The police are determined to ensure the safety and security of the public and will spare no effort in apprehending the culprits responsible for these crimes.
