A tense exchange of gunfire occurred on Thursday as police officers successfully rescued Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident who was kidnapped 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 State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.

He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna State, 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 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip, of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested.”

The police further disclosed that the three other suspects who escaped were being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, 10 9mm P.A.K ammunition, and five 9mm special ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers.

He said preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024 just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.

He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja; one Auwal whose surname is unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.

The kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the police.

The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Police Command, A. D. Ali, while commending the operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the state.

He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response.