Police kill nine ‘kidnappers who target wealthy individuals’ in Lagos

The police command in Lagos says it has killed nine suspected kidnappers who “target high net-worth residents” in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Ikeja on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the command, said the police killed the suspects during a gun duel.

Hundeyin said the command received intelligence about the kidnappers’ plans about two weeks ago.

“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,” he said.

“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 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 fire power of the police.

“Nine of them were neutralized while two escaped with gunshot injuries. Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi automatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loud speaker 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.”

Hundeyin said the police have been on the trail of suspects who have been kidnapping wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos.

“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,” he said.

“Many of these were not made public so as to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available.”

The spokesperson said the public should not hesitate to pass information to the police.