Attempt by soldiers to rescue an oil magnate, Momoh Otinau, from the suspected kidnappers that abducted him on February 17 turned bloody yesterday, Tuesday, when the kidnappers engaged the soldiers in gun battle, resulting in the death of a soldier and three of the kidnappers.
It was gathered that a relation of the kidnapped victim who has been negotiating with the kidnappers was said to have informed the soldiers believed to be part of those prosecuting “exercise cat race” of his intention to go and drop a ransom for the kidnappers.
The soldiers then decided to follow him with the intention to rescue the victim and arrest the suspects, but the rescue mission turned fatal as the kidnappers on sighting the relation approaching the designated point with the armed soldiers immediately opened fire on them.
Otinau was kidnapped in front of a mosque in Okene while relaxing with friends.
Meanwhile the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Command Army Records in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, Weri Finikumor has confirmed the killing of three kidnap suspects and a soldier.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone in Lokoja that some of the suspected kidnappers have been arrested and are helping the military in its investigations.
Finikumor assured residents that operation “exercise cat race” was ongoing to curtail criminality and boost security in the state.
He said that the army would make details of the exercise public as soon as it is concluded.
Source: NAN. [myad]
