The Kaduna State Police Command, on Friday, handed over a notorious Abuja kidnapper, Phillip Chinaza, to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
Chinaza was apprehended in Kaduna on Thursday when the police intercepted him and his accomplices (currently evading arrest) while transporting a victim, Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano State. This information was provided by the Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
Acknowledging the handover of Chinaza, along with some weapons and a mobile phone on Friday, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that further details would be disclosed shortly.
SP Adeh said, “The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm the arrest of one Chinaza Phillip, a notorious Abuja kidnapper, by police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday, January 17, 2024.
“The suspect has been handed over to the FCT Police Command today Friday, January 19, 2024, and he’s currently in police custody. More details will be communicated soon.”
Reports state that an exchange of gunfire on Thursday as police officers rescued Akinyemi, an Abuja resident kidnapped while driving out of his home.
The abductors were en route with Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police intervened, as stated by the Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
Hassan mentioned that on January 18, 2024, operatives from the Kawo Divisional Headquarters in Kaduna received a distress call about a kidnapping incident originating from Abuja. They were alerted that the perpetrators and their victim were passing through Kaduna.
Hassan said, “The Operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.
“On sensing danger and in an effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested.”
The police additionally stated that the three remaining suspects who evaded capture are currently under pursuit. They mentioned the recovery of the victim’s vehicle, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunitions from the kidnappers.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnapping occurred on January 17, 2024, when the victim was leaving his residence at the mentioned address.
The three suspects who managed to escape were identified as Chidibere Nwodibo from Life Camp, Abuja, one individual with the surname Auwal, and the unidentified leader of the gang.
The kidnappers were en route to Kano with their victim when the police intervened.
Commending the operatives for their courageous action, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Police Command, A. D. Ali, urged them to continue pursuing criminal elements in the state. He also encouraged the public to use security agencies’ hotlines for prompt responses to distress calls.