3rd July, 2016
Ogun State Police Command has rescued a graduate of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Justina Anochie, 27, from kidnappers.
Anochie, it was learnt, was kidnapped by some armed men in one of the off campus hostels in Ilishan Remo last Sunday.
Two close friends of the abducted girl have also been arrested by the police in the course of investigation, which led to the hideout where the young lady was kept.
In a statement on Sunday, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said operatives attached to Odogbolu Division of the command found the victim after she had been released by the kidnappers in Odogbolu and handed her over to the DPO, Ikenne Division, whose jurisdiction covers where the young lady was kidnapped.
Gunmen had on Sunday, 26 June, 2016, stormed a hostel in Ilishan Remo area of Ogun State and abducted Justina Anochie, a student of Nursing at Babcock University.
It was gathered that the abductors invaded the hostel located in an isolated area at about 9p.m.
Their attempt to abduct a male student in the same hostel failed as the boy was said to have fled.
The nursing student, who wrote her final examination in May, was waiting to complete her clearance before joining her family in Abuja, when the incident occurred.
“The command, as usual, had put in place strategies to rescue her immediately the kidnapping case was reported to Ikenne Division of the command and a suspect was arrested based on a tip off. In the course of Police investigation, another suspect was arrested.
“Presently, the command, through its Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, DCIID, Eleweran Abeokuta, has two suspects who are close “friends” to Justina.
“The forensic investigation and ICT skills adopted by the police in the rescue operation compelled the armed kidnappers to release the victim unhurt and without ransom”, the statement read in part.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the kidnappers contacted the lady’s parent the day after she was abducted (Monday) and demanded for N5 million ransom.
The kidnappers also threatened and ordered the parents to withdraw the case from the police.
The State Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
He vowed to apprehend all members of the kidnapping gangs terrorising the people of the State.
Ali also commended the relations of the victim for their patience and understanding during the rescue operation.
He appealed to members of the public to always support the police in its fight against crimes in the state.