The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has described as false a report that police has rescued a man abducted in Abuja and has also arrested the kidnapper.
Report has it that police on Thursday, January 18, rescued an Abuja resident, Segun Akinyemi who was kidnapped while driving out of his house after heavy gun battle.
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According to a statement issued by the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, the kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped on them.
He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
“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.
“In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested,” he said.
Hassan said the three other suspects who escaped are being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 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, by the kidnappers 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 surname unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
He said: “The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, while commending the operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the state.
“He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response”.
However, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh told reporters that the report was not true.
Adeh while reacting to the development said: “not true please disregard”.