Police ambush Lagos kidnap gang, neutralise nine

Lagos State Police Command said its operatives on Thursday neutralised nine kidnappers, while two escaped with gunshot injuries.

The command said the development followed credible and actionable intelligence about a dangerous and notorious gang of kidnappers planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos.

This was made known on Friday in a statement by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command.

Hundeyin stated that police, upon receipt of the intelligence about two weeks ago, followed up closely and were able to determine that the gang was going to strike on Thursday in the Ladipo area of Lagos State.

According to him: “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. We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end.”

He explained that the kidnappers, though caught unawares, did not give up easily as they engaged police officers in a shoot-out.

SP Hundeyin further said that the kidnappers bowed to the superior firepower of the police, with nine of them neutralised while two escaped with gunshot injuries.

“Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK-47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one 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. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he added.

Hundeyin, therefore, urged everyone, including medical practitioners, to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and promptly inform the nearest police station.

He also used the medium to call on other well-meaning Lagosians not to hesitate to give police information when they suspect anything amiss around them.