Lagos Police arrest 1, kill 2 kidnappers of Ikorodu businessman

The police in Lagos State in the early hours of Thursday burst a gang of kidnappers in the Ikorodu area of the state, killing two of them in an exchange of gunfire and arresting another member of the gang.

The state commissioner of police Hakeem Odumosu disclosed this on Thursday at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, while speaking with journalists.

The slain kidnappers and the arrested one were said to be members of the gang that terrorized and kidnapped people around boundary communities between Lagos and Ogun States.

The police boss said, “Gentlemen of the press, the long arm of the law has caught up with a notorious kidnap gang as operatives of the Lagos State Police Command smashed the gang in its criminal hideout in the deep forest in Imota/ Emuren areas of Lagos State .”

CP Odumosu added that ” the forest has been notorious for keeping their victims and collection of ransom for which one Lukmon Onabanjo, alias Bugon was a victim in recent past .”

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” The successful operation started at about 23:30 hrs of 29 September 2021 after days of intelligent monitoring on the gang “

The Lagos CP also added that ” in a well+ planned, highly coordinated and carefully executed operation, which lasted for some hours, operatives of the command’ s tactical teams in collaboration with the Imota Police Division burst the armed gang in its criminal hideout, located in the heart of the deep forest .”

“The recent kidnapping incident in the state further invigorated the determination of the command not to allow the criminals turn the state to a theater of kidnapping .”

He added that ” on sighting the police operatives, the daredevil armed kidnappers engaged them in a shootout that lasted for some hours .”

“In a determined and courageous spirit, the operatives returned the heavy fire. In the ensuing gun battle, two of the suspected armed kidnappers were fatally injured but later gave up the ghost, while being conveyed to the hospital for medical attention.”

CP Odumosu added that “One was arrested alive. Other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds. Manhunt and security onslaught has been emplaced for their arrest .”

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CP Odumosu identified the arrested members of the gang as Peter Thomas, a 25- years – old man of no fixed address or occupation.

According to the police boss,” Exhibits recovered from the gang include 2AK47 riffles, 3 AK 47 magazines with forty-six AK 47 ammunition “

Other items recovered from the gang also include a dagger, the sum of ten thousand naira cash, one item phone, and 1 MTN SIM card.

He stressed that ” ” The breakthrough nonetheless, the Lagos State Police will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of kidnappers and other criminal elements, who might want to use the state as a safe haven for their nefarious criminal activities .”