The Police in Ogun State have intensified search of gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, who killed a yet-to-be-identified traveler and abducted seven others along Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway.
It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering about seven, armed with AK 47 rifles, struck at about 6:00p.m. on Friday between Ilisan, Ceplast industry and Iperu junction axis of the expressway.
A viral audio from one of the victims of the tragic incident, who was apparently a driver heading to Lagos, detailed how the hoodlums stopped their vehicles with sporadic shooting and later marched them into the bush.
He said: “The incident happened at about 5:00p.m. in the evening. They were armed to the teeth with AK 47 rifles, shooting sporadically. They even killed one person who was inside a Lexus car.
“They marched about seven of us into the bush and when I saw that they were speaking Hausa, I started speaking Hausa to them, begging them not to kill me, so they ask if I was a northerner, I said no, but I have once lived in Kebbi and Sokoto.
“They kept taking us further inside the bush. Later they asked if I had any money, so I gave them N103,000 and my phone. Another driver from the east, said that the kidnappers also collected N120,000 from him just as we were abducted. They later set the two of us free, while five other persons were still with them.”
Confirming the development, spokesperson for Ogun State Police command, SP Omolola Odutola, said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, who was not happy with this security breach, had after summoning an emergency meeting, directed the tactical commanders and the Mobile Squadron to go after the undesirable elements.
According to her, the gun-wielding hoodlums killed one of the travelers yet to be identified.She, however, said the number of persons abducted by the gunmen could not be ascertained. She said: “The incident which happened on May 3, at about 6:55p.m. was reported as a case of armed robbery, murder and kidnapping.
“We have information that about seven people whom we don’t know with A.K 47 suddenly blocked the Benin-Sagamu expressway.
“When the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ilisan got to the scene of the incident, he saw two vehicles pierced with bullets; a Lexus jeep 300 with registration number LND 640 DY, the driver’s name is Chilaka Lugard and another Lexus jeep 350 with registration number LSR 996 JF belonging to Kingsley Chineme.
“Inside this Lexus 350 car was found a cross bag with N113,000, two iPhones; an iPhone six and iPhone eleven promax.
“There was also a corpse of an unidentified man who was shot in the head. The third vehicle was loaded with plantains and the driver who was among those abducted, regained freedom and was later allowed to go with the vehicle. The other Lexus vehicles have been taken to Ilishan Police station.”
Odutola said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, was not happy with this security breach and had, after summoning an emergency meeting, directed the tactical commanders and the Mobile Squadron to go after the undesirable elements.
“The CP has been to the scene of the incident. A lot of work is ongoing to fish these people out and let them answer for their criminality. I can assure you that these criminals will be apprehended very soon,” she added.