Alleged notorious Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) criminal, Chinaza Philip-Okoye, on Wednesday claimed that he’s only an armed robber and not a kidnapper.
Speaking to reporters during a parade of criminal suspects at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police command, Chinaza gave an insight into the events leading to his arrest by the police and his connection with other members of the gang who are still on the run.
He said: “I want to categorically state that I’m not a kidnapper, I am not a kidnapper. We only patrol at night and collect cars, and we take them to Kano for sale.
“That night, our aim was to rob the man and take his car, but I was surprised that after we collected his car, yellow who is like our leader, asked the man to enter the back of the car. I didn’t know why he did that, and I couldn’t argue with him, so we were driving to Kano before the police caught up with us in Kaduna where I was arrested.”
The Nigeria Police Force had on Saturday, paraded Chinaza Philip-Okoye on a stretcher at the Force Intelligence Response Team base, Guzape, Federal Capital Territory.
It was gathered that the suspect sustained serious injuries after he was shot by police officers following the interception of his gang at a fueling station on Thursday night.
Chinaza Philip-Okoye was arrested by a combined team of FCT and Kaduna police officers in Kaduna on Thursday when the police swooped in on him and his gang members (now at large), while they were taking a victim, Segun Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State.
The police, according to findings were notified of Akinyemi’s abduction when the kidnappers drove through Rita Lori, Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night, and all police formations were alerted within the FCT and neighbouring states of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi.
“We were informed of Akinyemi’s abduction when the kidnappers drove through Rita Lori in Garki, so the FCT Police Command alerted all police formations in the FCT and neighbouring states of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi.
“So, FCT anti-kidnapping operatives chased them into Kaduna State before other gang members fled, and Chinaza Phillip-Okoye was shot at and apprehended by a team of FCT policemen and Kaduna State police officers, and the victim was rescued unhurt and his vehicle recovered.” A senior police source confirmed to our correspondent.
Parading the notorious kidnapper on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects ran out of luck as they were intercepted by police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one by them, Chinaza Philip-Okoye was arrested, and the victim rescued unhurt.
Adejobi noted: “In a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL Gray colour by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedez Benz 230 car, Police Operatives in an intelligence-propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of N500,000.00 was transferred from his account.
“The suspects however ran out of luck as they were intercepted by Police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one by the name Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested, the victim rescued unhurt, and the said Hilux Van recovered. It was discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences, at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.”
The Kaduna State Police Command had on Friday handed over Chinaza Philip-Okoye to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
The Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan had revealed that Chinaza was arrested in Kaduna on Thursday when the police swooped on him and his gang members (now at large), while they were taking a victim, Segun Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State.
Confirming receipt of Chinaza alongside some arms and a mobile phone on Friday, the FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh said more details would be revealed soon.
SP Adeh said: “The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm the arrest of one Chinaza Phillip, a notorious Abuja kidnapper by police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday, January 17, 2024.
“The suspect has been handed over to the FCT Police Command today Friday, January 19, 2024, and he’s currently in police custody. More details will be communicated soon.”
There was a heated gunfire exchange on Thursday, as police officers rescued an Abuja resident, Akinyemi, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his home.
The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped in on them, according to the Kaduna Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
He noted that they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
Hassan said: “The Operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.
“On sensing danger and to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested.”
