Passenger killed as police foil kidnap attempt in Kogi

Tragedy struck along the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road in Kogi State as a passenger was killed during a failed kidnapping attempt, the state police command has confirmed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, revealed that the incident occurred on June 23. According to the statement, the attempted abduction was thwarted by officers from the Obajana Division as part of ongoing intensified security patrols across the state.

The police operatives reportedly engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun duel, successfully preventing the abduction. However, during the crossfire, one of the passengers was fatally hit.

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Ovye-Aya noted that while the police intervention prevented a mass abduction, one passenger tragically lost their life during the encounter.

“The police patrol team responded promptly to sporadic gunfire and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, forcing them to flee.

“All passengers were successfully rescued, but six sustained injuries, and one later died while receiving treatment,” he said.

He further stated that the command, in a separate incident, arrested two suspects in Ayingba for possession of firearms and recovered several exhibits on June 21.

He said the two arrested suspects were found in possession of a locally made pistol, live cartridges, and suspected Indian hemp.

Again, he disclosed that on June 22, operatives of the Okene Division intercepted a Nissan vehicle with five passengers heading towards Auchi.

He said that during a search, one passenger escaped, leaving behind a bag containing a submachine gun (SMG) rifle, live ammunition, and other exhibits.

The spokesman listed the recovered items as “1 SMG rifle with breach number 5197, 1 magazine, 28 live rounds of 5.6 mm, 1 live G3 round, a locally made pistol, 2 live cartridges and other items.”

Ovye-Aya quoted the commissioner of police, Miller Dantawaye, as reassuring citizens of the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.

(NAN)