By Ibraheem Solaudeen.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, on Friday, received the four rescued Turkish nationals who were earlier whisked away by unknown gunmen at a drinking joint in Edu Local Government area of the state.
The governor received the foreigners in Abuja, shortly after returning from Monrovia, where he had accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to the 172nd Independence Anniversary Celebration of Liberia.
Governor Abdulrazaq handed the expatriates over to the Turkish Ambassador, explaining that kidnapping was not in the character of the Kwara people.
He commended the police for securing the release of the abductees which he stated was unconditional.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has maintained that no ransom was paid for the release of the hostages.
According to him, in an effort to track down the kidnappers, the state command worked alongside the local vigilante in Edu local government to secure the release of the expatriates.
“The command has since been working round the clock with the local Vigilante in that area. Our Anti kidnapping squad, Special anti robbery squad, members of our operation harmony all working under the IGP operation purff Adder were deployed.
“The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) was also immediately deployed. Our efforts started yielding results yesterday when one member of the gang named Buba was nabbed at Gbugbu with two accomplices and one AK47 rifle recovered.
“Another member involved in the negotiation for ransom was again nabbed this morning 26/07/19. These arrests put pressure on the remaining gang members to release the Turkish hostages unconditionally.
“Let me state for purpose of emphasis that no ransom was paid for the release of the hostages. Efforts are underway to track down other fleeing gang members”, he stated.
Egbetokun appreciated the Kwara State Government and everyone whose effort and cooperation assisted in the release of the foreigners.
He also warned other criminal elements to steer clear of perpetrating crime in the state, adding that “Kwara State is not conducive for criminal operations.”