Police launch manhunt for kidnappers

INTENSIVE manhunt has been launched for the kidnappers of two US and two Canada nationals, who were rescued in the early hours of Saturday by a combined team of Police detectives attached to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and the Kaduna State Police Command.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the operatives of the IGP-Special Forces arrested two of the suspected kidnappers, while other members of the gang took to their heels.

The team, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abba Kyari, have begun a manhunt for other members of the gang, while the victims have been handed over to their embassies.

A source gave the names of the rescued victims as Nate Vangeest (Canada); John Kirlin (USA); Rachel Kelley (Canada), and  Dean Slocum (USA).

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, confirmed the rescue, stating that the victims had regained their freedom.

The Kaduna State Police command confirmed the release of the four foreign nationals, noting that the two kidnappers arrested were helping the police in their investigation.

A statement issued by the police spokesman, ASP Muktar Husseini Aliyu, in Kaduna, on Saturday, read in part: “Combined teams of Intelligence Response Team (IRT); Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Kaduna Police Command, all deployed by IGP Ibrahim Idris, have rescued four foreigners, three male and one female.

“The two Americans and two Canadian citizens are in fairly good health and were rescued around 7:30am on Saturday and handed over to the American Embassy in Abuja for medical attention and other immediate needs.

“Also,  two of the kidnappers have been arrested and serious efforts to arrest the remaining gang members are in progress.”