No fewer than nine suspected kidnappers have been killed, while two escaped with gunshot injuries during a gun duel with police operatives in Lagos State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the state command headquarters in Ikeja, said the suspects who were gunned down on Thursday were planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos.
According to him, the police received credible intelligence that the suspects were to strike at the Ladipo area of the state. Following this information, Hundeyin said the police prepared for them and laid an ambush for the kidnappers.
Items recovered from them include four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loud speaker.
Other include two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350.
He said: “Our intelligence gathering assets yielded very credible and actionable intelligence about a dangerous and very notorious gang of kidnappers planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos.
“Upon receipt of this intelligence about two weeks ago, CP Fayoade 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.
“The kidnappers who were caught unawares would not give up easily as they 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 semiautomatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loudspeaker were recovered from them. Also recovered are their two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350.”
The police spokesperson stated that the Command had been on the trail of the gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos.
Hundeyin urged Lagosians, including medical practitioners to report anyone with gunshot injuries to the nearest police station.
“We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end.
“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.
“We urge everyone including medical practitioners to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and promptly inform the nearest police station or call any of our emergency numbers if they come across any. We also use this medium to call on other well meaning Lagosians not to hesitate in giving us information when they suspect anything amiss around them to enable us act appropriately and swiftly. On our part, we promise to continue to prioritize their safety and security,” he said.
Hundeyin said investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.