Photo: Frank Mba, CP, Ogun Command
Police rescue kidnapped journalist after almost one-hour gun battle
The police in Ogun State say they have rescued a journalist, Oluseun Oduneye, from his kidnappers after a gun battle which lasted for almost an hour.
A statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, said Oduneye, the publisher of Issues Magazine, was kidnapped at Mobalufon area of Ijebu Ode on Thursday.
”The journalist was riding in his Toyota Camry car when he was attacked at about 7.50 pm on his way to Ijebu-Ode from Abeokuta,” he said.
The police said the abductors later called his wife using the victim’s phone the following morning and demanded for N30 million as ransom.
Upon the report, Oyeyemi said that the Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba directed the Divisional Police Officer, Obalende Divisional Headquarters, Murphy Salami, whose jurisdiction the incident happened to ensure the safe rescue of the victim.
“In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO mobilised his detectives and embarked on technical and intelligence based investigation of the incident.
“Their efforts paid off when the Toyota Camry of the victim was traced to Idimu area of Lagos, where the kidnappers were hibernating waiting for the ransom.
“On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in a shootout which lasted for about 45 minutes before they abandoned the car and took to their heels after sustaining varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
“Having realised that the game was over, the kidnappers were left with no alternative but to abandon the victim, and he was rescued unhurt,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mba, who commended his men for their gallantry and professional conduct appealed to members of the public especially hospitals and traditional healers to inform the police if anybody with gunshot injury was seen in their area.
The CP also warned criminals to steer clear of the state, saying that the command was battle ready to take the fight to their doorsteps.
