Police smash Notorious kidnapping rings in Kogi, rescues victims

The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has again smashed more notorious kidnap gangs that have been terrorizing Kogi State and its environs.

The team also rescued four kidnapped victims at different locations in Kogi State.

Force spokesman, DCP Don Awunah, in a statement said a special intelligence operation conducted by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the IGP’s Monitoring Unit at different black spots in Kogi State, unmasked three members of a notorious kidnap gang that had operated in major cities in Kogi and neighbouring States.

They were trailed and arrested at their hideouts in the outskirt of Egume and Anyimgba towns in Kogi.

The leader of the gang, who gave his name as Ibrahim Nasarawa led the operatives to their den where one 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.

“Officers 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.

“Sadly, two of our men sustained gunshot injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital while the other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds.

“In another coordinated operation, three members of a dare-devil kidnap gang that abducted Mrs. Mayo Ohemi, Nichodemus Kadiri and Miss Victoria Abdul from Acharu Egume area of Kogi State were arrested and their confession led to the rescue of the victims who were incarcerated in the kidnappers’ camp from where they demanded a ransom of twenty million naira.

“Suspected arrested were Ojonimi Negedu ‘m’ Aged 32 yrs; Awodi Ezekiel ‘m’ Aged 26 yrs and Micheal Sule ‘m’ Aged 21 yrs.

“The rescued victims who sustained various degrees of injuries in the hands of their abductors are now receiving treatment in the Hospital”, he added.