Police Kill Kidnap Kingpin, Rescue AbductedDirector [graphic Photo]

The police in Lagos have shot dead an alleged
kidnap gang leader, John Paul, in a gun duel that
ensued while a hotel director was being rescued.
It was gathered that the victim, Saheed Kolawole,
who was abducted in the Ikorodu area of Lagos
was rescued alive.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Kolawole was abducted
on January 30 at about 10pm.
According to the police, Kolawole is the director of
Scot Hotel in Odonla, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers,
who took Kolawole to an unknown destination,
contacted Kolawole’s family on the phone and
demanded a ransom of $200,000.
It was learnt that while the family reported the
matter to the police, they also made arrangements
to pay the ransom. The gang reportedly told the
relatives to come to a place in the Owutu, Ikorodu
area.
Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers,
on February 4, came on a motorcycle to collect the
ransom as agreed with the family.
Our correspondent was told that as the kidnappers
made to collect the ransom, a gun duel ensued
between them and operatives of the Special Anti-
Robbery Squad who were lying in ambush.
During the shootout, the gang leader, 31-year-old
Paul, reportedly sustained bullet wounds while
other members fled the scene.
Paul was said to have been rushed to a hospital
by the police, where he died the following day.
Our correspondent learnt that the police were able
to locate the kidnapper’s hideout, where Kolawole
was being held, and freed him.
A police source revealed to our correspondent that
Kolawole was brutalised by the gang as they cut
his body with cutlasses to coerce his family into
paying the ransom.
The source added that the same gang had attacked
the Owutu Police Division in Ikorodu, and killed
two policemen during another gun duel.
He said, “The kidnappers took him (Kolawole) to an
uncompleted building in the Owutu area from
where they were communicating with his family.
“They stripped him Unclad, and used cutlass on
his body. They poured petrol on his skin and
threatened to burn it so that his family would hear
his scream on the phone and agree to pay the
ransom.
“It was the same gang which attacked the Owutu
Police Station and shot dead two policemen. They
are known to have multiple hideouts in the area.
The police have shot dead their gang leader and
the others had fled for now.”
Our correspondent learnt that the operational
vehicle of the gang, a Toyota Corolla with
registration number, APP 626 CP, was recovered
by the police.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode
Aderanti, said at a press briefing on Tuesday that
further investigations were ongoing to apprehend
other fleeing gang members.
He said, “When I got the information, I directed the
Operation Commander, SARS, SP Abba Kyari, to go
after the gang.
“The SARS decoy team was able to gun down the
kidnap gang leader and rescue the victim alive.
The operational vehicle of the gang was also
recovered while further investigations are ongoing
to apprehend other fleeing gang members.”