Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Police in Ogun State on Monday gave graphic details of how its men rescued three staff of Lafia Hospital, Apata, Ibadan who were abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on July 23 in Ajebo area of the state along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police in the state said having received the report of the incident, it promptly deployed high-powered security operatives to the scene of the incident with a clear mandate to rescue the victims unhurt and bring the perpetrators to book.
Oyeyemi said the rescue team led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations embarked on technical and forensic investigations, which enabled the team to geo-locate the kidnappers’ hideout within Fidiwo/Onigari forest along the Lagos-Ibadan express way.
He added that the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, also sent a police helicopter with which the location was properly surveyed in order to compliment the efforts of the rescue team.
Oyeyemi, explained further that having located the hoodlums’ hideout, the place was smoked through the chopper, which left the hoodlums with no other alternatives than to hurriedly push out their victims from captivity on Saturday, July 27.
He disclosed that apart from three persons abducted on the 23rd of July, another four persons were discovered in the bush, who according to him had earlier been abducted on July 24 whose ordeal was not reported.
“In all, seven victims were successfully rescued on the 27th of July 2019, and they have all been re-united with their families.
“One suspect who is strongly believed to have taken part in the kidnap saga was arrested and he is currently assisting the police in our investigation.
“To further rid the area of criminal activities, a comprehensive intelligence-based raid was carried out in all the surrounding forests as well as the vulnerable points in the area, where about 40 suspects were arrested with all sort of illicit drugs.
“They are all being investigated and whoever is culpable amongst them will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The command will not rest on its oars in order to ensure that crime and criminality become things of the past in Ogun,” he said in the statement.