EXCLUSIVE: Police Hopeful on Rescue of Kidnapped Briton

LAGOS POLICE PRO, NGOZI BRAIDE

Following the abduction of a yet-to-be identified Briton, along the Muratala Mohammed Airport Road, Off Oshodi, the Lagos State Police Command, yesterday expressed optimism that he would soon be rescued going by the leads at their disposal.

The Public Relations Officer of the state command, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who spoke to spoke to me on the phone, confirmed the incident but said investigations are ongoing.

She said, “When the information filtered in, the state Commissioner of Police, detailed a crack team of investigators to unravel the incident and rescue the victim from the clutches of his abductors.

As I speak to you now, we are on the matter and I believe that he would soon be rescued but I don’t want to go into details for security reasons so as not to jeopardise the case.”

It was however gathered that the kidnappers had already made contact with friends and family of the victim and demanded for ransom running into millions in the dollar equivalent. Although Braide refused to divulge how much was asked for as ransom again for security reasons, she however confirmed that the kidnappers had made contact for negotiations.

Police sources also said the kidnappers had threatened to keep their victim in their hideout if any attempt was made to involve the police.

The British national was said to have been kidnapped by gunmen shortly after landing at the airport in Lagos, which was confirmed by the Deputy British High Commission in Lagos, Wale Adebayo.

Earlier reports said the kidnappers had first opened fire on the vehicle conveying the Briton to his destination, injuring the driver and then abducting their victim.

In a statement by the British High Commission said, "The British High Commission is working closely with others to secure the release of the hostage and because of the nature of this incident, the British High Commission is not going into further detail about it."