By Desire Emmanuel
A kidnap kingpin has been killed by men of the Ogun State Police Command at his hideout along the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road while the sum of N2 million collected as ransom and AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 bullets were recovered from the hideout.
Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command killed him during an intelligence-led operation at the hideout located within the Orile Ilugun Forest axis of the road.
The operation followed the release of a kidnapped victim who was abducted on May 14 at Nufats Filling Station at the Odeda section of the road.
The victim was said to have regained freedom on May 18 around 8:30 p.m. apparently after payment of ransom.
However, following the victim’s release, the operatives intensified intelligence-driven efforts to apprehend members of the criminal gang responsible for the abduction.
Consequently, on Tuesday, May 19 around 6:00 a.m., the operatives, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the kidnappers’ hideout within the Orile Ilugun Forest.
It was gathered that on sighting the police operatives at the hideout, the kidnappers opened fire, resulting in a gun duel.
The operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the killing of the gang’s kingpin, while other members of the gang fled into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
“Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, the sum of N2 million and two mobile phones,” the command said in a statement on Tuesday.
It added that the corpse of the kingpin had been deposited at a morgue in the area while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.
