OPERATIVES of the Ogun State Police Command have announced the rescue of a journalist, Oduneye Olusegun, who was kidnapped by some gunmen in the Mobalufon area of Ijebu Ode on March 9, 2023.
According to media reports, the victim was rescued unhurt by the police at a location in Idimu, in the Egbe-Idimu LCDA of Alimosho LGA.
A press statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated that the journalist was on his way from Abeokuta when he was kidnapped at Mobalufon area in his Toyota Camry car at about 7:50 pm on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
“The abductors later called his wife through the victim’s phone the following morning and demanded for N30 million as ransom,” he said.
Channels TV reports that upon the report of the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, was said to have directed the Divisional Police Officer of the Obalende Divisional Headquarters, Superintendent of Police, Murphy Salami, whose jurisdiction the incident happened to ensure the safe rescue of the victim.
Their efforts were said to have paid off when the Toyota Camry of the victim was traced to Idimu, where the kidnappers were hibernating and waiting for a ransom.
“On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in a shootout which lasted for about 45 minutes before they abandoned the car and took to their heels after sustaining varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” the statement confirmed.
The victim’s car, which was soaked with the kidnappers' blood as a result of gunshot injuries, was then recovered by the Police team.
Having realized that the game was over, the kidnappers were left with no alternative but to abandon the victim, and he was rescued unhurt.
The Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, who commended his men for their gallantry and professional conduct appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals and traditional healers, to inform the police if anybody with a gunshot injury is seen in their area.
