LAGOS – A joint security operation by the officers and men of the Nigerian Police and a private security outfit engaged by the Kogi State Government to ensure security in the Ajaokuta area of the state, on Tuesday rescued scores of kidnapped victims.

According to a release made available to journalists by the state government, the kidnappers were alleged to have been terrorizing the Ajaokuta area of the state for a while, committing so many crimes, kidnapping, raping and robbing innocent citizens.

“This prompted the State Government to hire a private security outfit, Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd to collaborate with the Police to ensure the arrest of the kidnappers. 

“The kidnappers ran out of luck as they were apprehended by police officers working with the private security outfit. 

“The arrest of the four kidnappers led to the rescue of ten victims that were kidnapped by the gang in some parts of Kogi East. 

“Confirming the arrest of the kidnappers and the rescue of the victims, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo told newsmen that the arrested kidnappers are cooperating with investigators and that the rescued victims will be reunited with their families. 

He said, “We can confirm that the efforts of the Ododo administration in engaging duly registered security outfits to work with conventional security agencies are already paying off. One of the engaged security outfit, Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd has successfully worked with the Police to help in apprehending some kidnappers that had been terrorizing people in Ajaokuta and travelers along that road to other parts of the state. 

“They acted on a credible intelligence and confronted the kidnappers numbering about four. The kidnappers were overpowered and arrested, leading to the rescue of ten victims in their custody”. 

Fanwo said the State Government is prepared to make Kogi State the safest in Nigeria. 

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has promised to spare nothing at ensuring that Kogi remains a safe place for everyone. We are too central to Nigeria to fail this country. The Governor is deploying every resource at his disposal to make sure the state is rid of criminal elements. 

“The Ajaokuta breakthrough is a warning signal to criminals around the state that the present administration is prepared to make Kogi a safe place for all”, he said.

He thanked the Kogi State Police Command and Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd for rising to the occasion to apprehend the gang terrorizing the Ajaokuta area of the state, saying the State Government will continue to support security agencies in carrying out their duties of ensuring security of lives and property in the State. 

He also confirmed that the suspected kidnappers are currently in Police custody for further investigations and prosecution.