Asst. Commissioner of Police & Family Members Kidnapped, Demands N30m Ransom

Gunmen terrorising Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road, Kaduna State, have abducted an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adeniyi, and three of his family members.

Adeniyi is the Officer-in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Zamfara State Police Command.

Adeniyi and his family were travelling back to Zamfara from Kaduna on Wednesday when the gun-trotting men flagged down their Toyota Hilux.

The gang reportedly dragged them from the vehicle and whisked them away in another vehicle.

The identities of the family members had yet to be ascertained.

Our correspondents learnt on Thursday that the kidnappers had communicated with their relatives, demanding N30m ransom for their release.

Apart from the ACP and his family, it was learnt that a police officer and three others on a bus were abducted the same day on the road.

It was gathered that several police units, including the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Unit and Anti-Kidnapping unit, had been deployed to rescue the victims.

A source told PUNCH Metro that the Toyota Hilux had been recovered by the police, adding that the kidnappers were criminals dislodged from Niger State.

“The ACP was returning to his duty post in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Wednesday with his family members when the gunmen struck along the Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road and whisked them away. He is the OC, SCIID of the state police command. Only the vehicle has been recovered.

“Another police officer was abducted with three others while travelling in a bus to Birnin Gwari on Wednesday. A police patrol team got information that some travellers on the bus had been abducted, they chased the kidnappers, but I do not know whether the victims have been rescued or not.