Lagos State Police Command has addressed the general public on the breakthrough it has made in busting a kidnap gang in Lagos.

The kidnap gang have been using a thick forest in the Imota/Emuren axis as hideout, two suspected kidnappers have met their waterloo in the hands of Police operatives in Lagos, as they were reportedly killed after a gun duel with the Police, while one was arrested.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu disclosed this on Thursday while addressing with journalists at the command’ s headquarters in Ikeja.

CP Odumosu revealed that the slained kidnappers and the one arrested were members of the gang terrorizing and kidnapping people around boundary communties between Lagos and Ogun States .

The Police boss reassured law-abiding citizens of Lagos to continue their lawful activities without fear as the Police Command is in control.

CP Odumosu said, “Gentlemen of the press ,the long arm of the law has caught up with a notorious kidnap gang as operatives of the Lagos State Police Command smashed the gang in it’s criminal hideout in the deep forest in Imota/ Emuren areas of Lagos State.”

CP Odumosu added, “the forest has been notorious for keeping their victims and collection of ransom for which one Lukmon  Onabanjo, Alias Bugon was a victim in recent past .”

“The successful operation started at about 23:30 hrs of 29 the September 2021 after days of intelligennt monitoring on the gang   “

Lagos CP also added that, “in a well planned, highly coordinated and carefully executed operation, which lasted for some hours, operatives of the command’s tactical teams in collaboration with the Imota Police Division burst the armed gang in its criminal hideout, located in the heart of the deep forest”.

“The recent kidnapping incident in the state further invigorated the determination of the command not to allow the criminals turn the state to a theater of kidnapping .”

“on sighting the police operatives, the daredevil armed kidnappers engaged them in a shootout  that lasted for some hours .”

“In a determed and courageous spirit, the operatives returned the heavy fire. In the ensuing gun battle, two of the suspected armed kidnappers were fatally injured but later gave up the ghost, while being conveyed to the hospital for medical attention.”he said.

CP Odumosu further said, “One was arrested alive, other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds. Manhunt and security onslaught has been emplaced for their arrest”.

He identified the arrested member the gang as Peter Thomas, a 25- years old man of no particular address or occupation.

According to the Police Chief, “Exhibits recovered from the  gang include :

2 AK47 riffles,

3 AK 47 magazines with forty six ( forty six )

AK 47 ammunition ”

Other items recovered from the gang also include:

A dagger,

the sum of ten thousand naira cash,

one itel phone

and 1  MTN SIM card .

He emphasised that.”The breakthrough nonetheless, the Lagos State Police will not relent  in it’s efforts to rid the state of kidnappers and other criminal elements, who might want to use the state as a safe haven for their nefarious criminal activities .”