THE Nigeria Police Force, on Saturday, paraded a notorious Abuja kidnapper, Chinaza Philip-Okoye on a stretcher at the Force Intelligence Response Team base, Guzape, Federal Capital Territory.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect sustained serious injuries after he was shot by police officers following the interception of his gang at a filling station on Thursday night.
Philip-Okoye was arrested by a combined team of FCT and Kaduna police officers in Kaduna on Thursday when the police swooped in on him and his gang members (now at large), while they were taking a victim, Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano State.
Our correspondent gathered that the police were notified of Akinyemi’s abduction when the kidnappers drove through Rita Lori, Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night, and all police formations were alerted within the FCT and neighbouring states of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi.
Amongst the suspects paraded on Saturday were three Bwari-based kidnappers- Idris Ishaku, m, 27 years; Bala Umar, m, 27 years; and Dahiru Salisu, m, 27 years, who have been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Local Government Area and other parts of Abuja.
In a statement, Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the combined team of operatives arrested 13 suspects for various other crimes.
“Amongst the achievements recorded is the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the above-named Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them,” the statement read.
“In a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL Gray colour by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedez Benz 230 car, Police Operatives in an intelligence propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) was transferred from his account.
“The suspects however ran out of luck as they were intercepted by Police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one by the name Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested, the victim rescued unhurt, and the said Hilux Van recovered. It was discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences, at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.
“Also, operatives of the DFI-IRT office intercepted one Everest Magaji, a gunrunner, during negotiation with some notorious bandits who are currently at large, for the purchase and supply of illicit firearms and ammunition. Eleven (11) Pistols, and Two (2) Pump Action Guns were recovered from the suspect.”
