Some suspected gunmen said to be dressed in military uniform allegedly kidnapped seven persons along the Fidiwo area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday just as one person was shot dead while escaping the attack.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the vehicle conveying the victims was accosted by the gun-wielding armed men who fired sporadically and abducted seven passengers of the vehicle, and escaped with the kidnapped victims into the bush along the expressway.
It was gathered further that a female passenger in another vehicle who saw the attack and attempted to flee was shot by the armed men leaving her in a critical condition while another unidentified woman was shot dead by the armed men.
He said, “I got a report of a kidnapping incident that occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday. I learnt that the kidnappers were dressed in military uniform and they accosted a vehicle, kidnapped some of the occupants and shot one person dead. I cannot ascertain the number of persons kidnapped yet.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the attack to our correspondent late Tuesday, stressing that the police had begun a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.
She said, “One person reported a kidnapping incident on Monday. She said she and her family were travelling from Akure to Lagos in their family vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus, when they were intercepted by a group of armed individuals who were firing sporadically after passing the Fidiwo Bridge.
“Seven people, including the parents of the person, were abducted and taken into the bush while she and her four siblings were left behind. The children were brought to the police station along with the vehicle.
“Also, one female who was travelling in another vehicle, was shot by the kidnappers while attempting to escape. She is currently receiving treatment at the Victory Hospital Ogere.
“Information from the victim suggests that there were approximately 15 kidnappers wearing army uniforms. She was shot while fleeing while an unidentified female corpse, shot during the incident, was found and deposited at the Fos Mortuary in Ipara.”
Odutola stressed further that as soon as the report of the abduction was received, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, deployed senior officers to conduct a bush-combing exercise which led to the rescue of one of the victims on Tuesday.
“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, ordered a bush-combing exercise into the Bamboo Forest to rescue the kidnapped victims from the incident. The operation was coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, and assisted by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sagamu.
“At about 1230hrs today, the police team successfully liberated one of the victims who has been united with his family.
“The commissioner is fully on top of this incident to ensure others are rescued while the CP is assuring residents of Ogun not to panic or exercise any restraint in their travelling plans,” Odutola concluded.