In a daring rescue operation, police engaged in a heated exchange of gunfire to liberate Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident who had been kidnapped while leaving his home. The dramatic incident unfolded as the kidnappers were en route from Abuja to Kano State, prompting swift action from the Kaduna Command’s Police operatives.
According to ASP Mansir Hassan, the Police Public Relations Officer for Kaduna Command, a distress call on January 18, 2024, alerted operatives to the kidnapping in progress. The grey Toyota Hilux van carrying the kidnappers and their victim was intercepted around 0010 hours by officers from the Kawo Divisional Headquarters in Kaduna.
In the ensuing confrontation, one of the kidnappers, identified as 28-year-old Chinaza Philip from Life Camp Abuja, was arrested, and Akinyemi was successfully rescued. However, three other suspects managed to escape the scene, and efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts.
The recovered items from the operation include the victim’s vehicle, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunition. Preliminary investigations reveal that Akinyemi was abducted on January 17, 2024, near his residence in Abuja.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Police Command, A D Ali, commended the operatives for their bravery and emphasized the ongoing commitment to combatting criminal elements in the state. He urged the public to utilize security hotlines for prompt responses to distress calls, reinforcing the collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community in ensuring public safety.
