GLITZ TV
In a significant breakthrough, the Nigeria Police Force showcased a high-profile kidnapper, Chinaza Philip-Okoye, at the Guzape base of the Force Intelligence Response Team in the Federal Capital Territory. The suspect was transported on a stretcher due to severe injuries sustained from a police shooting during the interception of his gang at a filling station on Thursday night.
Philip-Okoye was apprehended in Kaduna by a joint team of police officers from FCT and Kaduna. The operation took place when the police launched a surprise attack on him and his accomplices while they were transporting a victim, Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano State. Unfortunately, the other gang members managed to escape.
The FCT Police Command received information about Akinyemi’s abduction when the kidnappers passed through Rita Lori in Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night. Following the alert, all police formations in the FCT and neighboring states, including Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi, were immediately notified.
A senior police source stated, “FCT anti-kidnapping operatives pursued the kidnappers into Kaduna State, where some gang members fled. Chinaza Philip-Okoye was shot and apprehended by a team of FCT and Kaduna State police officers, resulting in the safe rescue of the victim and the recovery of his vehicle.”
During the parade, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the suspects’ luck ran out when they were intercepted by police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna. While three members of the gang managed to escape, Philip-Okoye was apprehended, and the victim was rescued unharmed.
Adejobi further stated, “In an intelligence-driven investigation, police operatives discovered that the victim, along with his gray-colored Hilux van, was being transported to Kano State after being dispossessed of his ATM cards in Kaduna, where a sum of N500,000.00 was also transferred from his account.”
Chinaza Philip-Okoye and his accomplices had previously been arrested for similar offenses in November 2023 and were on court bail when they committed the recent crimes.
The Kaduna State Police Command handed over Philip-Okoye to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Friday. The FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the suspect’s arrival, along with recovered arms and a mobile phone, and assured that more details would be provided soon.
In addition to Philip-Okoye’s arrest, the police paraded 15 other suspects involved in kidnapping and violent crimes in the FCT and neighboring states. The authorities also seized a significant number of sophisticated firearms and ammunition from the suspects.
Among the suspects were Idris Ishaku, Bala Umar, and Dahiru Salisu, who were apprehended for the abduction of 23 individuals in the Bwari area of Abuja on January 3, 2024. Furthermore, during an operation, operatives intercepted Everest Magaji, a gunrunner, while he was negotiating the purchase and supply of illegal firearms and ammunition to notorious bandits who are currently at large. The police recovered 11 pistols and two pump-action guns from Magaji.
The achievements attained through these relentless operations demonstrate the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment, under the leadership of IG Egbetokun, to ensure the safety of the country. The Inspector-General urges citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.
