The Police in Kaduna has confirmed the kidnap of five persons by armed men at Danbushiya Village, in the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis. Seven persons were initially captured, but two of them were released by the abductors.

The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Kaduna.

Sabo said on Aug. 23 at about 2300hrs, DPO Malali reported that he received a distress call that, armed men in military uniform blocked the access road to Babatunde Fashola Housing Estate, Danbushiya Village, at the outskirts of Kaduna and intercepted a Honda Accord Reg. No. LND 753 AL and five other vehicles and kidnapped seven persons.

According to him, patrol teams within the metropolis led by the DPO were quickly mobilized to the scene of the incident but the hoodlums had already escaped with the victims.

“However, due to pressured patrols within the general area, two of the victims were later found being released by the hoodlums.

“The two released victims alongside the vehicles were recovered to the Police station,” the spokesman said.

He said, “upon search, the sum of $10,000 US Dollars and N647,300 cash were recovered in one of the vehicles”.

He also explained that combined teams of police Anti-kidnapping Unit and Vigilantes were later dispatched to the scene for search operation with a view to arrest the perpetrators and rescue the remaining five victims.

“The IGP’S IRT were also contacted for Technical Support in tracking the hoodlums,” he added. (Agency report)