The FCT Police Command on Friday confirmed the arrest of one Chinaza Phillip, who it described as a notorious Abuja based kidnapper.
A statement on Friday, January 19, 20Abuja-based24 by the Police Public Relations Officer for FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command made the arrest on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
SP Adeh said that the suspect was handed over to the FCT police Command today being Friday, January 19, 2024, and currently in police custody.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Police Command, CP A.D. Ali on Thursday, January 18, 2024, announced that in a renewed vigor to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the public in the state, personnel of the Command rescued a victim kidnapped in Abuja, arrested one of the kidnappers, recovered victim vehicle and kidnappers’ operational firearms.
CP Ali said that the arrest of the kidnapper followed strict orders he gave to Police Operatives to deny criminal elements any active space.
He said that on Thursday, January 18, 2024 Operatives attached to the Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja that indicated that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna Command, ASP Mansur Hassan, said Operatives at about 0010 hours blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC with four passengers including the driver, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.
Hassan said that on sensing danger and in an effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the policemen and they responded accordingly.
According to ASP Hassan; “In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters, Area 3 Garki, Abuja was rescued and one of the kidnappers, a 28 years old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja was arrested while three others escaped although trailed. “Equally, the said vehicle belonging to the victim, two numbers of Retay G17 model pistol, one Berretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions and five 9mm special ammunitions were recovered from the kidnappers.
“Preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted at about 1700 hours on the 17th January, 2024 by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.
“The three escapees were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained,” the statement stated.
The olice said that the kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by operatives.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.
CP Ali also called on members of the public to avail themselves with security agencies hotlines for any distress call requiring prompt response.
