The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers in Ijanikin, culminating in the safe rescue of two victims.
This breakthrough was confirmed by the zonal police spokesperson, Umma Ayuba, in a statement released on Wednesday.
The apprehended suspects were identified as Samuel Kwasi, aged 64; Monday Unachukwu, aged 24; and Freeman Ekpebo, aged 23.
According to Ayuba, operatives of the Zone 2 police command, based in Onikan, Lagos, conducted a targeted raid on the kidnappers’ hideout located in the Ijanikin area, leading to the swift arrest of the syndicate and the liberation of two captives.
The operation was triggered by a distress call received on March 26th at 6:00 p.m. from a resident of Millionaire Estate, Oniru, Lagos.
The caller reported the abduction of her 10-year-old son, maid (names withheld for security reasons), and driver, Mr. Samuel Kwasi, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
The kidnappers had brazenly demanded a ransom of N150 million.
Acting promptly on this crucial intelligence, a team of detectives under the leadership of CSP Tijjani Taofiq, the officer-in-charge of the zonal monitoring unit, launched a meticulously planned operation.
Leveraging advanced tracking techniques and intelligence gathering, the team successfully traced the kidnappers’ hideout to the Ayetoro area of Ijanikin, along the Badagry Road in Lagos.
On March 28th, at 3:40 p.m., the law enforcement officers executed a daring raid on the Cozzy Hotel in Ijanikin, where Unachukwu was apprehended, and the victims were rescued unharmed.
In a synchronized maneuver, Kwasi and Ekpebo were captured at Sun Era Hotel in Ijanikin, where they had allegedly convened to receive the ransom.
Investigations into the matter uncovered Kwasi as the principal suspect and mastermind behind the kidnapping scheme. He admitted to sabotaging the car’s tracking device prior to the operation.
Additionally, authorities recovered the car’s tracking device and a knife from the hotel room at Sun Era Hotel, where the suspects had lodged.
Commending the swift and effective response of the police officers involved, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Olatoye Durosinmi expressed appreciation for the cooperation and vigilance demonstrated by the community.
(NAN)