The Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have foiled a kidnap attempt and arrested seven individuals linked to the attack.
The Command’s Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, announced this in a press release posted on his personal X.com page on Friday.
Hundeyin stated that the force had gotten credible intelligence two weeks ago about the dangerous and very notorious gang kidnapping influential and high net-worth individuals in Lagos.
The operatives swung into action after they were informed that the operation was going to take place in the Ladipoe area of Lagos, leading to the arrest of seven while two escaped with gunshot injuries.
The statement partly reads, “ 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 determined 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. Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK47 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.”
The spokesman further stated that the police had been investigating and trailing the gang for the past eight months after numerous reports of the kidnapping of wealthy individuals were reported.
He further urged the public, especially medical practitioners, to report any case of gunshot injuries to the nearest police station.
