Kunle Adelabu
It has been revealed that contrary to the viral video by the brother of one of the two kidnapped victims in lgbe Oloja in lgbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), alleging that police and other security teams that were mobilised to rescue the two residents, were inactive, it was actually a family member of the other kidnapped victim that reportedly pleaded with the security men not to launch any offensive attack on the kidnappers, stating that it may lead to the victims’ death.
Mr Dare Igbasan, the Commander of the Joint Local Taskforce, Lagos State, made the revelation to THE IMPACT
The guy, in the video, had claimed that officers from about seven tactical teams and police commands that were on the ground did nothing while they were there, and asked viewers to assist him in sharing his video to reach the appropriate authorities, for his brother’s rescue.
Two persons, a woman and a man, were kidnapped last Thursday, and were taken into the swamp. They were only released after a payment of ransom.
It was gathered that families of the victims paid N11 million naira.
Our findings also revealed that the kidnappers have been in that area around 4pm to survey their targets on the fateful day, and struck around 9pm, when they abducted a woman from her house.
It was while taking her into the swamp, we gathered, that the other man was also kidnapped. It was gathered that they were released last Saturday, after the payment of the ransom.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the tactical teams led by one officer Godfrey, OC Tactical in the state, were deployed by the Commissioner of Police, immediately he got the news about the incident. The teams, we gathered, stayed at Igbe over the night on Thursday till Friday when they planned to launch assault on the kidnappers.
Aside from the fact that the team were stationed at the crime location, our reporter reliably gathered that there were other teams that were equally stationed at Agunfoye and other strategic locations in preparation for the rescue mission.
The Commander of the Joint Local Taskforce, Lagos State, Mr Dare Igbasan, speaking to our reporter in Igbogbo, days after the incident, denied that the tactical teams on ground for the rescue of the kidnapped victims, deliberately did not go into the swamp to trail the kidnappers.
He said that he met the officers from different police formations deployed by the Commissioner of Police and his own men led by his deputy, at the scene of the kidnapping, and that they were ready to move into action but the husband of the female victim pleaded with them not to attack.
“I actually arrived at scene of the kidnapping at Igbe Oloja, alongside the Area Commander, on Friday morning, which was the second day of the kidnapping, and met the tactical teams from about four police formations.
“They were actually there since Thursday night with my men which I mobilized from Anthony and Igbogbo.
“It was the husband of the woman that was kidnapped that pleaded with us that we should not move in for the rescue operation, for the safety of his wife. He asked the security on the ground to allow them hear from the kidnapers. There is no an iota of truth in the guy’s claim in the video.
“The OC Tactical and his team were ready to move in and in actual fact, there were other teams at Agunfoye and other strategic locations waiting for orders, but the man came about four times to plead that we should not move in and that he and his wife family prefer to wait for call from the kidnappers to discuss her ransom”, JTF Commander said.
It was gathered that the family was trying to avoid what happened last year to a kidnapped lady that was killed when the kidnappers suspected a rescue operation.
While stating that the said guy in the video was nowhere near the scene, while the whole thing lasted, the JTF Commander expressed his dismay over the situation which he said put the dedicated officers in a bad light.
“The guy’s comment in the video is no only misleading but also not proper at all, because he did not give correct explanation of what actually happened.
“He was not even anywhere near the scene because he was under a building somewhere doing the video and trying to get viewers to go viral at the expense of lives. Such act is not a good one at all because the tactical teams and my men were ready”, he added.
While assuring residents of Igbe communities that his men are always ready to assist them whenever that there is need, the JTF Commander also charged them to be more vigilant and security conscious, especially when they suspect anything or anyone.
“We are always ready to move into any situation whenever that we are called and police too are ready to give their support, but residents will have to assist us with credible information. They have to be security conscious and vigilant about everything that is happening in their community.
“As you have raised, the kidnappers were loitering within the street on that very day since afternoon until the night that they decided to kidnap their victims and some of the residents confirmed that, but they did not call us to report the suspicion.
“In fact, we gathered that the kidnappers asked those (residents) outside to go inside their homes before they operated. The situation would not have been like the way it happened if they had called on us in good time”, he said.
