Segun Atanda/
Raging war between the Police and kidnappers on Thursday and Friday recorded more casualties on both sides, NewsmakersNG has learnt today.
According to the police, kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen engaged officers in a shootout in Nassarawa State and killed a member of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) identified as Sgt Tom Mohammed, while the police in Ogun and Abia states killed two suspected kidnappers and arrested five others.
The late Sgt Mohammed with Force Number F/No. 344862 was with a team investigating a kidnapping case at about 7:30am in Nassarawa Toto Local Government Area when they were ambushed.
Officers told NewsmakersNG that the herdsmen were in the bush waiting to kidnap a white foreigner that was being driven in a white Pick Up van heading their way.
‘The IRT operatives engaged the kidnappers in a shootout, foiled the kidnap and repelled the attackers,” police authorities told NewsmakersNG in a statement. “After the incident, F/No. 344862 Sgt Tom Mohammed was discovered to be missing in action; hence, a combined team of IRT and FSARS in Nasarawa and Divisional Patrol in Nassarawa State combed the entire forest and eventually on 2/2/2018 at about 0900hrs, they found his bullet-ridden body in the same forest. Arrangement is being made to remove the deceased body to the mortuary. The foreigner and his Mopol Escort also sustained minor injuries and they were treated.”
The police also told how they smashed a gang of kidnappers who abducted the Unit 55 Commander of the Mobile Police (MOPOL) in Aba, Abia State – ASP Solomon Nyakno Aniefiok on January 14, while he was checking on his men in the field.
“He was suddenly blocked and kidnapped by AK47 Rifle-carrying kidnappers. He was eventually released three days later, after a ransom was paid,” the statement says. “Irked by the development, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris deployed the Intelligence Response Team to Abia State to get the kidnappers. Based on the IGP’s directives, one of the best IRT teams was deployed and after six days of unrelenting follow up five of the kidnappers were arrested alive and one kidnapper met his Waterloo during gun battle with IRT operatives.
“Exhibits recovered are one AK47 Rifle with S/no 56-2550382 with two magazines and 60 live ammunition, one Berretta Service Pistol of the Mopol Unit Commander, one locally made pistol and two cartridges; one police bullet-proof jacket, one police vest, two head-warmers, one Mopol Jungle cap etc.”
The arrested suspects were identified as 36-year-old dismissed police recruit, Ifeanyi Stanley Ekpelulor, aka one-man squad, a native of Osisioma, in Abia State; John Alozie, 26, aka Alagboso, also from Osisioma; Ogbonna Wesley, 31; Eze Obinna, 22, a native of Isiala Ngwa, in Abia, who used the kidnapped Unit Commander’s ATM card to withdraw money, and Eze Orji, 58, a native of Isiala Ngwa.
The police also arrested one Osioma Paul, the wife of a jailed kidnapper and sister-in-law to the gang leader, Ifeanyi Stanley. She was allegedly keeping the operational rifles and ammunition for the kidnappers in her house.
Early today, a team of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in Ogun State, led by DSP Uba Adam, shot dead a suspected member of gang of kidnappers terrorizing Ilaro and its environs.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the gang had earlier kidnapped one Sanni Dan Nasarawa, who was taken to a thick forest, where they tied him down for seven days while waiting for his people to pay them ransom.
According to Ogun State police spokesman, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, Nasarawa was lucky when the rope they used to tie him loosened up when his abductors were fast asleep. He escaped and ran to FSARS office in Abeokuta where he lodged a complaint.
Oyeyemi said, “Upon his report, officers quickly mobilized and followed him to the forest. The team combed the forest from 6pm of February 1, up till about 4am of February 2, before they came across the gang and a gun battle ensued for almost an hour. At the end of the encounter, one of the suspects was dead while others numbering about seven escaped with various degree of gunshot injuries.
“Recovered from them is one AK47 riffle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.
“The Commissioner of Police (CP) Ahmed Iliyasu who was highly elated with quick response and gallantry display of his men appealed to members of the public especially hospitals, as well as traditional healers, to report anybody they see with gunshot injury in their vicinity. He equally assured residents of Ogun State of prompt police response to any crime reported and urged them to continue to sustain the trust and confidence they have in the Police.”
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