The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has smashed ‘notorious’ kidnap gangs that have terrorised Kogi State and its environs.
The operation also led to the rescue of four kidnapped victims at different locations in Kogi State, the police stated.
The arrested suspects are: “Ojonimi Negedu, 32, Awodi Ezekiel, 26, and Michael Sule, 21.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force Spokesperson, Don Awunah.
According to the statement: “In a special intelligence-led operation conducted by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the IGP’s Monitoring Unit at different black spots in Kogi State, three members of a notorious kidnap gang that has for a while operated in major cities in Kogi and neighbouring states were trailed to and arrested at their hideouts in the outskirt of Egume and Anyingba towns in Kogi State.
“The leader of the gang, who gave his name as Ibrahim Nasarawa, led operatives of Intelligence Response Team to their den where Edward Abutu Amedu was held hostage. On sighting the operatives, the armed guards who were stationed by the gang to keep watch over their victims, opened fire on the police, and the operatives responded and overpowered them in a tactical operation that saw three members of the kidnap gang suffer fatal injuries while their victim was rescued unhurt.”
The police, however, noted that two of their men sustained gunshot injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital while other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds. The police added that they arrested another kidnap gang that abducted one Mrs Mayo Ohemi, Nichodemus Kadiri and Miss Victoria Abdul from Acharu Egume area of Kogi State.
The suspects have also been arrested and their confession led to the rescue of the victims from the kidnappers’ camp from where a ransom of N20 million was issued. The rescued victims, who sustained various degrees of injuries in the hands of their abductors, are now receiving treatment in the hospital.
The Force noted that the recent operation by the police is designed by the IG to stem the tide of kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other criminal activities, adding that it would be sustained until all criminal elements are flushed out of the State.
The police boss advised all criminal elements operating in any part of the country to turn a new leaf and heed counsel or ignore the warning and end up in the arms of the law.
He, however, assured members of the general public of his determination to provide community-oriented service that would ensure active community partnership in crime prevention and control.