An Assistant Commissioner of Police in Zamfara state, Emmanuel Adeniyi, and three of his family members have been abducted by some gunmen terrorising Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road, Kaduna State.
It was learnt that Adeniyi and his family were travelling back to Zamfara from Kaduna on Wednesday when the gun-trotting men flagged down their Toyota Hilux.
The gang reportedly dragged them from the vehicle and whisked them away in another vehicle.
The identities of the family members had yet to be ascertained.
Our correspondents learnt on Thursday that the kidnappers had communicated with their relatives, demanding N30m ransom for their release.
Apart from the ACP and his family, it was learnt that a police officer and three others on a bus were abducted the same day on the road.
It was gathered that several police units, including the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Unit and Anti-Kidnapping unit, had been deployed to rescue the victims.
A source told PUNCH Metro that the Toyota Hilux had been recovered by the police, adding that the kidnappers were criminals dislodged from Niger State.
“The ACP was returning to his duty post in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Wednesday with his family members when the gunmen struck along the Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road and whisked them away. He is the OC, SCIID of the state police command. Only the vehicle has been recovered.
“Another police officer was abducted with three others while travelling in a bus to Birnin Gwari on Wednesday. A police patrol team got information that some travellers on the bus had been abducted, they chased the kidnappers, but I do not know whether the victims have been rescued or not.
“A popular businessman from Birnin Gwari, known as Danhaza, and his driver were also abducted three days ago while travelling on the same road to Kaduna,” the source said.
A police source disclosed to one of our correspondents that the kidnappers of the ACP and his family members had demanded a ransom.
The officer said the Force had got some leads on the abductors, noting that the victims would soon be freed.
The source said, “The police have information on the kidnappers, but I can’t tell you much for now so as not to jeopardise rescue operation. They are criminals we dislodged from Niger State. They are demanding about N30m ransom, but I can assure you that we will save the ACP and his family safely.
Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
