Lagos police have arrested two Pakistani nationals, aged 19 and 28, for allegedly kidnapping a fellow 48-year-old Pakistani who was lured from Kano under false pretenses.
Spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the suspects as “vicious and notorious,” hailing their arrest as a major breakthrough.
According to Hundeyin, a distress call on Wednesday led police operatives from the Ikeja Division to swiftly rescue the victim and apprehend two of the abductors, while five others managed to escape.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects deceived the victim by promising him a chef’s job in Lagos, even booking his flight and lodging him in a hotel upon arrival on February 28.
However, the next day, the kidnappers struck—overpowering the victim, tying his hands and legs, and demanding a N50 million ransom from his boss in Kano, threatening to kill him if the demand was not met.
His employer, acting swiftly, sent N1 million to stall the abductors while notifying the police.
During the operation, police recovered a grey Toyota Camry, $2,000 cash, three ATM cards, a green card, a driver’s license, and a National Identity Number (NIN) slip from the suspects.
The rescued victim is now safe and has reestablished contact with his family, while police intensify efforts to track down the fleeing gang members.
Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the swift police action, reassuring residents of the command’s commitment to stamping out crime.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed his directive to eliminate kidnapping and violent crimes across Nigeria.
