Gunshots As Police Arrest Kidnapper And Rescue Abuja Hostage.

On Thursday, as police officers freed Abuja resident Segun Akinyemi, who had been abducted while he was leaving his house, there was a heated exchange of gunfire.

ASP Mansir Hassan, the public relations officer for the Kaduna State Police, stated that the police apprehended the kidnappers while they were transporting Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State.

He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna State, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.

He noted that they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.

Hassan said, “The operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.

“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 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip, of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested.”

The police further disclosed that the three other suspects who escaped were being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, 10 9mm P.A.K ammunition, and five 9mm special ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers.

He said preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024 just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.

He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja; one Auwal whose surname is 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.

Although praising the officers for their courageous action, A. D. Ali, Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Police Command, gave them the continued responsibility of pursuing criminal elements within the state.

He urged the public to use the hotlines of security agencies in case they had any emergency that needed to be handled right away.