*Despite Families’ Rebuff Of Police Intervention
THE Lagos State Police Command said its operatives have rescued the three abducted Fouani brothers.
Recall that on June 14, the three Lebanese brothers- Abbas, Youssef and Amtal Fouani, owners of Fouani Nigeria Limited, which deals in electronics and the sole distributor of LG, Hisense and Maxi products in Nigeria, were kidnapped around 6pm in Lagos State, along with the boat captain and his assistant, by unknown persons.
The Command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the five of them- three Lebanese, the boat captain and his assistant, were rescued on Monday night by the joint effort of Lagos Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy in Orugbo Iddo, adding: “Thereafter, our tactical team in the area took them home on Banana Island in the early hours of today (Tuesday, June 18).”
The victims were reportedly abducted around Falomo Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos, while travelling from Apapa to Victoria Island by boat on their home from their factory.
Hundeyin had earlier on Monday stated that the Police was working “tirelessly” and intensifying efforts to rescue them.
Earlier, families, community and close associates of the Lebanese reportedly rebuffed Police intervention, saying they were in a better position to achieve results without endangering the lives of their loved ones.
This followed controversy surrounding their abduction by armed men suspected to be militants from the riverine areas of the state, who reportedly demanded $1.5million ransom during negotiations with the victims’ families.
A source close to the friends of the victims hinted that they could be released any moment, going “going by the progress and understanding so far recorded with the kidnappers.”
But Police operatives did not relent their efforts to rescue the victims, combing the waterways, including islands suspected to be kidnappers’ safe haven.
The circumstances surrounding their rescue or freedom remained unclear and whether this was made possible by any ransom payment or solely the effort of the Police.
