Kidnapped foreigners: Operation Burst counters Oyo police over claim of soldier’s death

The Operation Burst Security outfit on Monday countered claims by the Oyo State Police Command that it recovered corpses of one soldier and a civilian from a forest in Ibadan, while searching for foreigners kidnapped in the city.

Director  General (DG) of the security outfit, Col. Oladipo Ajibola (rtd) through a telephone conversation maintained that no soldier was killed in the operation.

He said, though a soldier sustained injury and he is recupirating in the hospital, adding that he was aware a civil defence officer was killed.

But, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, had earlier disclosed  in a statement issued in Ibadan that the command recovered corpses of one soldier and a civilian from a forest in Ibadan, while searching for foreigners kidnapped in the city on Wednesday.

The police mouthpiece added that an Army Lieutenant and a Civil Defense personnel also sustained gun shot wounds during an exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and security operatives.

Fadeyi explained that one Hassan Mills of Panorama farm, Mekun, Oke Alaro area of Ibadan was abducted at the entrance of his farm by unknown gunmen who shot sporadically before taking him away into the forest.

He added that the Divisional Police Officer in Oke Alaro, and his men combed the forest with a view to rescue the victim from his captors and also arrest the culprits.

Fadeyi revealed that a team of Operation Burst which was invited by the company arrived the area and proceeded to the forest during which one Army Lieutenant sustained gunshot injury on his right lap, and immediately taking to the hospital.

The Police image maker said the Personal Assistant to the victim who was also abducted escaped during exchange of gunfire.

Negotiation with the captors according to him is being concealed from the Police while efforts have been intensified to arrest the hoodlums and also rescue the victim.

He urged well meaning and good people of Oyo State with useful and credible information as to the whereabout of the kidnappers and victim to furnish the Police in the state for rescue operation to be carried out immediately.