At least one person was killed while seven others were abducted when a clutch of gunmen attacked some motorists along the Fidiwo area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The suspected assailants were said to be dressed in military fatigue. The gun-toting kidnappers reportedly escaped with the kidnapped victims into the bush along the expressway after ambushing them.
According to Punch, a female passenger in another vehicle who saw the attack and attempted to escape was shot by the armed men leaving her in a critical condition while another unidentified woman was shot dead by the armed men.
“I got a report of a kidnapping incident that occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday. I learnt that the kidnappers were dressed in military uniform and they accosted a vehicle, kidnapped some of the occupants and shot one person dead. I cannot ascertain the number of persons kidnapped yet.” the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
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The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the attack, adding that the police had begun a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.
She said, “One person reported a kidnapping incident on Monday. She said she and her family were travelling from Akure to Lagos in their family vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus, when they were intercepted by a group of armed individuals who were firing sporadically after passing the Fidiwo Bridge.
“Seven people, including the parents of the person, were abducted and taken into the bush while she and her four siblings were left behind. The children were brought to the police station along with the vehicle.
“Also, one female who was travelling in another vehicle, was shot by the kidnappers while attempting to escape. She is currently receiving treatment at the Victory Hospital Ogere.
“Information from the victim suggests that there were approximately 15 kidnappers wearing army uniforms. She was shot while fleeing while an unidentified female corpse, shot during the incident, was found and deposited at the Fos Mortuary in Ipara.”
Odutola stressed further that as soon as the report of the abduction was received, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, deployed senior officers to conduct a bush-combing exercise which led to the rescue of one of the victims on Tuesday.
“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, ordered a bush-combing exercise into the Bamboo Forest to rescue the kidnapped victims from the incident. The operation was coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, and assisted by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sagamu.
“At about 1230hrs today, the police team successfully liberated one of the victims who has been united with his family.
“The commissioner is fully on top of this incident to ensure others are rescued while the CP is assuring residents of Ogun not to panic or exercise any restraint in their travelling plans,” Odutola concluded