Kidnappers in police colour Sienna terrorise Lagos community

Some kidnappers in a Toyota Sienna vehicle painted in police colour around the Ikorodu area of Lagos State are said to be unleashing havoc on residents of the area.

Sources said the men in the Sienna are in camouflage and abduct unsuspecting Nigerians who often assume that they are being flagged down by the police.

A source told our correspondent that at Alfa along Igbogbo Igbe road, a man was abducted and driven away by the alleged kidnappers.

The source stated that cases of kidnapping by the men have been rampant in the entire Ikorodu area.

“Many kidnappers are now using police-painted Toyota Sienna vehicles. You won’t know the difference between the police vehicle and this one.

“Those in the vehicle wear camouflage and no one will doubt if they are policemen. Their uniforms are so identical to those of the police.

“The area they operate often is Igbogbo road to Ginti. Lots of people have been kidnapped within the area recently.

“Last Wednesday, a man in our presence was removed from his vehicle and taken to an unknown place,” the source said.

Another source told our correspondent on Sunday that they are scared of police vehicles driving close to them, especially Sienna and minimises.

According to the source, kidnappers, who are often dressed in police uniforms use these sorts of vehicles to attack and kidnap their victims, particularly in the evening and early morning.

One of the escaped victims, identified only as Ganiat said around 6.45 pm when she was walking to her area, a minibus stopped at her front and some men in police outfits came down to drag her into the vehicle.

She added that when they notice many people around, they had to zoom off.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached for comments as he neither picked up calls made on his telephone nor responded to an SMS chat.