The Lagos State Police Command on Friday confirmed the arrest of a gang of kidnappers, killing nine of them.
Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Friday, said police operatives got a tip-off about a dangerous and notorious gang of kidnappers planning to abduct some high-net-worth individuals in Lagos.
He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adegoke Fayoade, on receiving the tip-off directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence work on it.
Following Fayoade’s directive, police operatives investigated dutifully and were able to determine that the gang was going to strike on Thursday in the Ladipo area of Lagos State.
Hundeyin said that acting on the gathered intelligence, the police laid an ambush for criminals and caught them unaware.
However, the kidnappers did not give up easily as they engaged police officers in a shootout, before bowing to the superior firepower of the police.
Nine of them were neutralised while two escaped with gunshot injuries, the police image maker said.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is our delight to inform Lagosians that the Lagos State Police Command under the stewardship of CP Adegoke Fayoade, recorded a major breakthrough yesterday, Thursday, July 4, 2024,” 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.”
Hundeyin added that four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi automatic 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. Hundeyin said investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
He stated that the police had been on the trail of the kidnap gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnappings of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo, and Ladipo areas of Lagos.
“We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end,” the police spokesman said.
“This breakthrough is in addition to several other breakthroughs we have made in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes.
“Many of these were not made public so as to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available.”
The police have urged 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 its emergency numbers if they come across any.
“We also use this medium to call on other well-meaning Lagosians not to hesitate in giving us information when they suspect anything amiss around them to enable us to act appropriately and swiftly,” Hundeyin said.
“On our part, we promise to continue to prioritise the safety and security of Lagosians.”
