Th Nigeria Police Force paraded the notorious Abuja kidnapper, Chinaza Philip-Okoye, alongside 15 other suspects at the Force Intelligence Response Team base in Guzape, Federal Capital Territory.
Philip-Okoye was notably paraded on a stretcher due to injuries sustained during a police shootout following the interception of his gang at a filling station.
The arrest unfolded when the police received information about the abduction of Segun Akinyemi.
The kidnappers, led by Philip-Okoye, were apprehended by a joint team of FCT and Kaduna police officers as they were taking the victim from Abuja to Kano State.
According to a senior police source, “FCT anti-kidnapping operatives chased them into Kaduna State before other gang members fled, and Chinaza Phillip-Okoye was shot at and apprehended.”
The victim was rescued unharmed, and the suspect was later handed over to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command by the Kaduna State Police Command.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the suspects attempted to escape but were intercepted at a Kaduna filling station.
While three escaped, Philip-Okoye was arrested, the victim rescued, and the Hilux Van recovered.
Adejobi revealed that the suspects had earlier been arrested in November 2023 for similar offenses but continued their criminal activities while on court bail.
The police also paraded 15 other suspects involved in kidnapping and violent crimes in the FCT and neighboring states, recovering several sophisticated firearms and ammunition.
The Police Command urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.
The Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun, reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the safety of the country, emphasizing the importance of citizen cooperation in achieving this goal.