The spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police operatives, while on a joint patrol with local vigilantes in the community, accosted the gang on a yet-to-be unravelled mission while heavily armed.
He added that the joint security team chased the hoodlums until the vehicle they were driving ran into a ditch.
He said, “After a shootout, two members of the gang were arrested while four AK-47 rifles were recovered. Also recovered was one Toyota Highlander SUV with Reg. No. Lagos GGE 408 GZ.
“In a related development, another team of police officers also working with the local vigilante intercepted a Toyota Venza Car Registration number: Lagos EKY 746 JB at Neni in Anaocha LGA. The driver of the car fled on sighting the joint team. After a thorough search, 34 live cartridges were recovered from the vehicle.”
Ikenga noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, “who provided operational guidance to the joint team throughout both operations, has praised all personnel involved for their discipline and operational effectiveness.”
The police boss also directed the Rapid Response Squad at Awkuzu to investigate both cases that appear related.”
Ikenga added that the commissioner has vowed that the state would be made hot for any criminal gang to operate unless they are ready to meet their Waterloo.
The state police command recovered an AK47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition from a kidnapper’s hideout near the Awgbu community in the Orumba North LG of the state.
On Saturday, the police command intercepted a kidnap gang on Friday and rescued four men already abducted by the “dare-devil kidnappers.”
The state police spokesman disclosed that the kidnappers were taking the victims to an unknown destination before they were intercepted.
