From Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Police in Ogun State raided kidnappers hideout and rescued three victims unhurt, following a gun duel with the abductors.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta at the weekend, explained that the police, on receiving news of the abduction of the three victims around Ajebo in Owode-Egba area, quickly swung into action.
She explained that operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Squad burst into the hideout of the criminals and rescued the victims.
In the ensuing melee, two of the abductors suffered severe injuries and were arrested, just as one escaped with gunshot wounds into the forest.
Exhibits recovered from the hideout are one AK-47 rifle (Breech No 5005584) loaded with 139 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition; one magazine.
Others include one cutlass, chain and padlock believed to have been used to restrain the victims; N1,200,035 suspected to be proceeds of crime and mobile phones.
The Police Commissioner, Lanre Ogunlowo said a manhunt had been launched to catch the fleeing members of the kidnap gang, insisting that the command remains resolute in its zero-tolerance approach to kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
“The Ogun State Police Command, in its continuous commitment to ensure the safety of all citizens and maintain a firm stance against violent crimes, recorded a significant breakthrough in a kidnapping case reported on July 16.
“The incident involved the abduction of three individuals around Ajebo, under the jurisdiction of Owode-Egba Division. Following expert monitoring, on July 18, operatives of the the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed intelligence surveillance in the area and rescued the three victims unharmed at about 2100hrs.
“During the operation, the kidnappers engaged the police team in a gun duel. In the ensuing exchange of fire, two of the kidnappers were fatally wounded, while others escaped deeper into the forest with gunshot injuries,” the statement said.
