…Recovers AK47 rifles, 4 semiautomatic pistols, 9 AK47 magazines, walkie-talkies
… POS machine, Toyota 4Runner and blue Lexus RX350
Juliana Francis
The Lagos State Police Command today 5th of June 2024 said it has killed nine suspected kidnappers, believed to be among those that had been terrorising some part of the metropolis.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who made this disclosure while briefing journalists at Police Headquarters in Ikeja, showed a police van where the nine bodies of the suspects were pilled in up and covered, with blood dripping.
According to him, the gang specialised in kidnapping wealthy individuals in Lagos, with a particular focus on the Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of the state.
He said that the Police had been trailing the gang for close to eight months and finally launched an attack after receiving intel that the gang was about to strike again on Thursday.
Hundeyin explained that the nine suspects were killed in an intense gunbattle between them and policemen on Thursday but retreated and surrendered under the superior gun power of the suspect.
After the smoke cleared following the battle, headcounts were taken and it was discovered that nine of the suspects were killed, two escaped with gunshot injuries, while the police team did not sustain any injury.
Hundeyin urged residents in Lagos State, especially hospitals to report anyone seen with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from them are four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one Point of Sale (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.
According to Hundeyin, the defeat of the suspects would not have been possible if not for the stewardship of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade.
The image manager described the smashing of the gang as “a major breakthrough.”
Revealing how the gang of suspected kidnappers met its Waterloo, Hundeyin, 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 the 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 neutralized while two escaped with gunshot injuries.
“Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects. It is worthy of note that the Command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos State. We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end.
Hundeyin noted that the breakthrough was in addition to several other breakthroughs the Command had made in recent times in identifying and arresting gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes.
“Many of these were not made public 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,” said Hundeyin.
He also used the opportunity to call on other well-meaning Lagosians not to hesitate to give Police information whenever they suspected anything amiss around them, to enable the Police to act appropriately and swiftly.
“On our part, we promise to continue to prioritize their safety and security,” he assured Lagos citizens.
