Kidnappers release ACP, driver days after abduction

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Emmanuel Adeniyi, attached to Zamfara State Police Command, who was abducted last week, has been released.

Adeniyi was abducted on Wednesday, along with his driver. He and the driver were released on Saturday evening. Adeniyi was abducted while traveling to Zamfara with his driver. According to police sources, the ACP and his driver were released unhurt on Saturday and presently being debriefed by the Kaduna State Command.

A source said: “Immediately we received a distressed call about the abduction of the ACP and his driver, we immediately swung into action. The investigation took us to the Birnin- Gwari- Funtua road, which was where he was abducted. We were able to track down the location where the ACP and his driver were held. The kidnappers scampered when they sighted us.”

It was further gathered that the location of the kidnappers were traced through an aerial survey of the area.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP, Mukhtar Hussain Aliyu, who confirmed the release, said the ACP and his driver were actually rescued by the crack team of the police on anti-kidnapping and the special Inspector-General of Police Team on duty in the state.

 Aliyu said: “The operation included mounting an aerial survey of the area which combed the entire bushes, and we were unrelenting until we were able to rescue the ACP and his driver.”

Aliyu said no arrest has been made so far but confirmed that the ACP and his driver were unhurt. He also disclosed that from what transpired during the search for the ACP and his driver and the rescue that the police can confirm that it was a case of kidnapping. Less than 24 hours after the abduction of Adeniyi, the command has vowed to ensure his rescue.

According to Aliyu, on Friday, immediately the incident was reported, a crack team of anti-kidnapping squad and patrol vehicles were deployed on the area. Before Adeniyi’s release, the kidnappers had demanded for a ransom of N30 million.

Adeniyi was travelling back to Zamfara from Kaduna when the gunmen flagged down his Toyota Hilux.

The gang reportedly dragged him from the vehicle and whisked him away in another vehicle. On Thursday, the kidnappers communicated with their relatives, demanding N30m ransom. Adeniyi is the Officer-in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Zamfara State Police Command.