The Lagos State Police Command have foiled alleged plans by a notorious gang of kidnappers to abduct some high net-worth individuals in the State.
At a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Ikeja, its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed that the gang had concluded plans to strike on Thursday at the Ladipo area of Mushin before a crack team operatives swooped on them and in the ensuing shoot-out, nine of the alleged kidnappers were neutralised, while two others escaped with bullet wounds.
Hundeyin revealed: “On Thursday, July 4, 2024, 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, the Commissioner of Police, (Adegoke) 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 firepower of the Police. Nine of them were neutralised, while two escaped with gunshot injuries.
“Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi-automatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loud speaker were recovered from them. Also recovered are their two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4-Runner and a blue Lexus RX350. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.”
The Police spokesperson added that the Command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnappings of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos State.
He expressed delight that the breakthrough is in addition to several other successful operations the Command had recorded in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes, adding that many of these were not made public in orde to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available.
Hundeyin urged members of the public, particularly medical practitioners, to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and promptly inform the nearest police station or call any of the Command’s emergency numbers if they come across any of the fleeing suspects.
