PUNCH
The Kaduna State Police Command, on Friday, handed over a notorious Abuja kidnapper, Phillip Chinaza, to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
Chinaza was arrested in Kaduna on Thursday when the police swooped on him and his gang members (now at large) while they were taking a victim, Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped in on them, according to the Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
Confirming receipt of Chinaza alongside some arms and a mobile phone on Friday, the FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said more details would be revealed soon.
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.”
The PUNCH had reported that there was an exchange of gunfire on Thursday as police officers rescued an Abuja resident, Akinyemi, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his home.
The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped in on them, according to the Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
He noted that they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting 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.”
