Families, community and close associates of the four Lebanese nationals kidnapped Friday by suspected militants in the riverine areas of Lagos State have reportedly rebuffed police intervention, saying they are in a better position to achieve results without endangering the lives of the victims.
This came as controversy trailed their kidnap by armed men suspected to be militants from the riverine areas of the state.
While reports said the Managing Director of Fouani Company, a representative of LG and Hisense products was one of the victims; another source said it was one of his top managers and others that were kidnapped
They were said to have been abducted while travelling by boat from Apapa to Victoria Island when they ran into an ambush near Falomo Bridge.
Late yesterday, it was learned that the unknown gunmen were demanding a whooping S1.5 million as ransom while negotiations were said to be on between the families of the victims and their abductors.
A source close to the friends of the victims hinted that they may be released any moment from now especially “by nightfall going by the progress and understanding so far recorded with the kidnappers.
However, it was gathered that police detectives in the state were not leaving any stone unturned in rescuing the victims safely and had since set all machinery in motion towards achieving results.
According to sources, police detectives have commenced intensive combing of all waterways in the state including known islands that the kidnappers might have taken the victims to, noting “efforts are also in top gear to monitor activities of criminal elements in all coastal areas in the state.”
Vanguard was informed that the Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade had already given stern directives to men of the Special Squad to move into action and rescue the victims without delay.
Police sources said the team of detectives were also spreading their dragnets across all neighbouring states especially those close to waterways to round up perpetrators of the act.
The source said the measure was prompted by revelations from a notorious kidnapper recently arrested in one of the neighbouring states after they abducted an oil magnet at the Lamgbasa area of Lagos.
The kidnapper presently detained at the Command headquarters, Ikeja, submitted himself to the police after his tracks were uncovered and all his relations including his pregnant wife who were frustrating his arrest were apprehended.
When contacted over developments regarding the kidnap of the Lebanese, the state Police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin simply said: “We are on top of the situation. Though I may not give you all the details but I assure you that success will soon be recorded.”
