The Ogun Police Command has confirmed the rescue of some travellers, a Nigerian and three Indians, from suspected kidnappers along the Ogere inward Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
This was disclosed by the state command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, in a press briefing at Abeokuta on Wednesday.
The PPRO said the kidnappers ambushed a car occupied by the travellers on Sunday and abducted them, noting that the anti-kidnapping team of the command swung into action and later investigated the hideout of these suspects, in which two of them were shot dead during a face-off.
“On June 30, 2024, the Divisional Police Officer in Ikenne received a distress call reporting an incident at around 7:10 pm near Delabo junction on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway. It was reported that unidentified armed individuals, believed to be kidnappers, accosted a Toyota Rav 4 jeep with registration number AGL 16 JE, coloured grey.
“The armed men, who emerged from an unregistered Venza car, fired four shots at the driver’s side tyre and another at the rear side of the driver, forcing the vehicle to a stop. Subsequently, they forcefully abducted the occupants of the vehicle and fled towards Ijebu-Ode.
“Upon receiving the distress call, the anti-kidnapping squad of the Ogun State Police Command was dispatched with explicit instructions to pursue the fleeing suspects. Through a covert operation, the suspects were located in a bush where they were hiding. Upon noticing the police officers’ flashlight, they engaged in a gun battle with the law enforcement team.
“The anti-kidnapping squad’s superior firepower led to the elimination of two suspects, while the remaining criminals escaped with injuries, leaving behind their weapons. The victims later identified as one Nigerian and three Indian nationals, were safely rescued unharmed and reunited with their families,” Odutola said.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the operatives recovered 109 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five AK 47K rifles, eight AK 47 magazines, and two cell phones in their hideout.
She also urged the public to report if they had any reason to suspect someone of having gunshot wounds, saying a fast response squad had been deployed to the Sagamu-Benin route to improve security.
PUNCH Metro reported on Monday that some travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway were reportedly abducted by some gunmen at about 8 pm on Sunday while one of the victims was shot in the knee.
The gunmen were said to have ambushed the travellers between Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Ilisan township.
