By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
No fewer than nine suspected kidnappers have been arrested during the week by police operatives in Lagos, New Nigerian Newspapers has learnt.
They were said to have been arrested after a shootout that lasted several hours at Ajah area of the state.
The operation was reportedly carried out around one of the suspects’ hideouts in the Lekki-Ajah axis of the state.
The police said the suspects were members of a notorious gang of kidnappers operating in the Lekki-Ajah axis.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to newmen on Friday.
Adejobi said the arrest followed the resolution of the police to reduce crime to a manageable level.
He stated that the arrest followed series of complaints from members of the public to the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, over an upsurge in kidnapping along the Lekki-Ajah axis.
The force spokesperson added that during the raid, three Point of Sales (POS) machines allegedly used for the collection of random money and 10 mobile phones were recovered.
Adejobi said over the past weeks, the operations had recorded several achievements.
“In a more recent happening, on March 17, 2024, at about 10:30 pm, the Commander PMF 20, Ikeja, Lagos led a joint team of mobile men and officers from Maroko Division to a suspected den of kidnappers where they arrested nine kidnappers.
“Three of their victims were also rescued while 10 mobile phones and two PoS machines were recovered from the suspects.
“In a similar occurrence in the same Lagos State, on March 16, 2024, police operatives of the Badagry Divisional Headquarters, Lagos State arrested one Abass Taiwo Hassan, suspected of being the leader of a cult gang involved in the shooting of one Adeniyi Adebanjo, on February 26, 2024 and upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted to being the leader of a 6-man cult gang,” he said.
