THE Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of the kidnapped Managing Director (MD) of the Fouani Company, Mohamed Fouani, and his two brothers – Abbas Fouani, Youssef Fouani and Amtal Fouani.
The police further revealed that the captain of the boat they were travelling in and his assistant were also rescued.
According to the police, they were rescued Monday night at about 11 pm, and they have been reunited with their families.
Recall that gunmen on Friday, June 14, abducted the MD of Fouani Company along with his three Lebanese brothers, who work for the firm, while travelling by boat in Lagos.
According to Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, in a text message sent to The ICIR, they were rescued late Monday night in Orugbo Iddo axis of the state.
“Yes, they were rescued late last night in Orugbo Iddo. Our Marine Police with the support of the Nigerian Navy brought them to shore. Thereafter, our tactical team in the area took them home to Banana Island in the early hours of today. Five of them, three Lebanese, the boat captain and his assistant, Hundeyin stated.
The victims’ families had received a demand from the kidnappers for $1.5 million, but Hundeyin was unable to provide information about how the victims were freed, and whether a ransom was paid.
Fouani Nigeria Ltd is the sole distributor of LG, Hisense and Maxi electronics products in Nigeria.
The victims were kidnapped while coming from their factory by boat.
Hundeyin, who confirmed the abduction at the weekend said the command had commenced investigation into the matter.
He said, “We got a report about the abduction, and we have commenced investigations.”
Kidnapping has been a flourishing business in Nigeria.
In January, The ICIR reported that over 380 people were kidnapped between December 1, 2023, and January 3, 2024, across Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu.
According to Data obtained by The ICIR from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data bureau collecting data on the locations, dates, actors, fatalities, and types of all reported violence and protests worldwide, those abducted include men, women, farmers, children, and students.
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The victims were taken hostage at various incidents that occurred during the last month of 2023 and the first week of 2024, illustrating the escalating number of kidnapping cases in the country.
Also in March, The ICIR reported that about 703 people were abducted between March 3 and March 10 2024.
This is in addition to many other kidnappings and killings under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance