By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Police in Kogi, in a joint operation with a private security outfit engaged by Kogi State Government, have arrested four alleged kidnappers and rescued 10 victims in Ajaokuta area of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
He said that the alleged kidnappers had been terrorizing the Ajaokuta area of the state for quite a while, committing so many crimes including kidnapping, raping and robbery.
Fanwo revealed that the horrendous activities of the criminals prompted the State Government to hire a private security outfit, Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd, to collaborate with the Police in ensuring the arrest of the kidnappers.
The four kidnappers were said to have run out of luck as they were apprehended by police officers working with the private security outfit adding that their arrest led to the rescue of 10 victims kidnapped from Kogi East axis by the gang.
Speaking further on the arrest, the Commissioner told newsmen that the arrested kidnappers are cooperating with investigators and that the rescued victims would soon be reunited with their families.
“We can confirm that the efforts of the Ododo Administration in engaging duly registered security outfits to work with conventional security agencies are already paying off.
“One of the engaged security outfit, Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd has successfully worked with the Police to help in apprehending some kidnappers that had been terrorizing people in Ajaokuta and travellers along that road to other parts of the state.
“They acted on credible intelligence and confronted the kidnappers numbering about four.
“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has promised to spare nothing at ensuring that Kogi remains a safe place for everyone.
“We are too central to Nigeria to fail this country. The Governor is deploying every resource at his disposal to make sure the state is rid of criminal elements.
“The Ajaokuta breakthrough is a warning signal to criminals around the state that the present administration is prepared to make Kogi a safe place for all”, he said.
Fanwo thanked the Kogi State Police Command and Base SAN Security Nigeria Ltd for rising to the occasion to apprehend the gang terrorizing the Ajaokuta area of the state.
He added that the State Government would continue to support security agencies in carrying out their duties of ensuring security of lives and property in the State.
The Commissioner also confirmed that the suspected kidnappers are currently in Police custody for further investigations and prosecution.
