Free abducted surgeon, othersA RARE mix of the co-operation of local residents and the deftness of the police has led to the smashing of a kidnap ring.The police returned home with this haul: Two kidnap suspects, rockets and dynamites.The suspects and their weapons of operation wereparaded before reporters by the Lagos State police boss, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, yesterday .The special operation was triggered by information provided by some residents about the operation of the kidnap syndicate.Upon receipt of the information, Alkali confidentially engaged the Commander of Mobile Police Squadron 2, Mr. Patrick Ejedawe who mobilized his men and went for the kidnappers inside the bush at Ipaja, Lagos where they arrested the kidnappers and freed their captives.One of the victims, Mr. Godwin Eneh, a 66-year- old surgeon, who narrated his ordeal to reporters, noted that his hands and legs were tied for several days while his captors demanded several millions of naira as ransom for his freedom.'I am a surgeon and an industrialist. These men at Ajao Estate kidnapped me at gunpoint last week Thursday. They came to me well armed and pointed their gun at me. They started beating me up with their guns. At first, they said they were from the EFCC, (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission). Later they said my partner paid them N50 million to kill me and therefore demanded N150 million from me as ransom. But to God be the glory, yesterday, between 6.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m., policemen came to rescue us. Our being rescued was a miracle because the policemen were very few and they still were able to perform,' he said.Another victim, a manufacturer of foams and plastic products told reporters that he was kidnapped at Ajangbadi, a suburb of Lagos also at gunpoint.Alkali noted that his men were able to burst the crime based on information provided by patriotic Nigerians.'Crime prevention and management are not for police alone, members of the public gave us the information that we acted upon to burst this crime. The Lagos State government has also been living up to its creed by providing us with the logistic support. People should feel free to give me information; we are prepared to treat all information given to us with all confidentiality it deserves. We would fish out all the criminals in Lagos, no matter where they are hiding,' Alkali said..One of the suspects from Anambra State who confessed to the crime noted that he had killed one person in Awka and had fled to Lagos to hide. .He is related to one of the victims who was kidnapped.According to him, 'one of the victims is my uncle. He was able to recognize my voice when we captured him. I killed someone in Awka and decided to come and hide in Lagos when my friend introduced me into the business.'The other suspect said his duty in the syndicate was to pick up the ransom at a designated place. .'My own job is to go and pick the money from the victim's relatives,' he said.Meanwhile, the Northern Speakers' Forum has lauded the steps taken by the Presidency towards overcoming violence in the country, particularly in the North.The commendation was contained in a statement that was read by the forum's chairman, Goni Ali Modu, after the 21st meeting of the group held in Dutse, Jigawa State, from Friday till yesterday.The chairman, however, charged the Federal Government not to rest on its oars in ensuring that an enduring peace was bequeathed to the country.He expressed regret for the wanton destruction of lives and property in the northern region and in Nigeria at large occasioned by such violence.On the slow pace of road rehabilitation and construction in the region, he called on the Federal Government to expedite action by getting all the contractors back to site for prompt completion of the projects to check road accidents.Modu expressed worry over the dredging of River Niger that has been put on hold even as he urged the Federal Government to mobilize contractors back to site to earnestly continue the project.GovernorSule Lamido of Jigawawho spoke on the occasion urged state Assembly speakers in theNorthto restore the 'lost values and culture'of the region.Lamidosaidthe peopleof the region were knownas united souls,irrespective of their tribal or religious affinities.'Itis unfortunate that all these values have been lost because of political differences and other selfish interests that have bedevilled the region,' he said.Lamido,therefore, urged the forum to focusits deliberations on bringing unity and mutual co-existence among the different ethnic groups in the region and the nation in general.Healso enjoined the speakers to discuss the incessant crisesin different parts of the region.
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