Bella Ifasola

Lagos – No fewer than nine suspected kidnappers who were attempting to abduct a businessman in the Ladipo area of Nigeria’s Lagos State were killed by police operatives.

Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development while addressing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, the state capital on Friday.

Hundeyin remarked that the plan of the kidnappers was botched as police engaged them in a gun duel resulting in the death of the 9 gang members around 8 pm on Thursday.

“Lagos State Police Command recorded a major breakthrough yesterday (Thursday) July 4th, 2024,” the police spokesman said.

“Our intelligent gathering asset 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 (Adegoke) Fayoade directed the Command Tactical Team to commence work on it.

“They followed up closely and monitored up dutifully and were able to determine that the gang would strike yesterday in Ladipo Area of Lagos state.

“With the benefit of this information, we were able to prepare for them and more or less laid an ambush for them.”

Hundeyin added that the kidnappers who were caught unawares would however not give up easily as they engaged the police officers in a shoot-out.

“They of course bowed to the superior power of the police. Two escaped with gunshot injuries,” Hundeyin said.

The police spokesman also disclosed that four AK 47 rifles, 4 locally made semi-automatic pistols, 9AK 47 magazines, 2 Walkie-talkies, 1 POS machine, and a loudspeaker were recovered from the gang.

“Also recovered were 2 operational vehicles, 1 black Toyota 4Runner and a Blue Lexus RX 350,” Hundeyin added, stressing that investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

He affirmed that the Command has been trailing the hoodlums for the past 8 months for their alleged numerous kidnappings of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo, and Ladipo areas of Lagos state.

“We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has come to an end. This breakthrough is in addition to other breakthroughs we have made in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs and members of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes,” Hundeyin added.

He added that many of these successes were not made public to protect the identities of the informants.

“We urge everyone including medical practitioners to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and quickly inform the nearest police station or call any of our emergency numbers,” he said.

“We also use this medium to call on other well-meaning Lagosians not to hesitate to give us information when they suspect anything amiss around them to enable us to act appropriately and swiftly.

“On our part, we promised to prioritise their safety and security.”

Hundeyin also confirmed to journalists that some perpetrators of criminal acts reside outside of the state but have their gang member in Lagos from where they instruct them to carry out criminal activities.

“I don’t want to mention what part of the country they come from, so I don’t want to run the risk of labeling any part of the country. Some from outside Lagos, and some within Lagos.

“We are working to get them arrested as we are calling on members of the public to report any sighting of any person they see with gunshot injury.

“The same way we worked to discover the place they were going to operate yesterday, that same way, we are working to get them arrested.

“They are not regrouping as two people can’t be in a group. So they are ready decimated, and I can assure Lagosians that we will get them arrested.”

He, however, said that the would-be kidnap victims would prefer their privacy.

“We know them and we know the exact people they were going to get yesterday, they helped us to lay an ambush for them and the would-be victims, we diligently made them aware that they just escaped something,” Hundeyin stated.

According to a viral video, residents of the area applauded the police for the successful operation.

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