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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Edo State Police Command said a suspected kidnapper, who engaged its personnel in a gun duel was killed, while four abducted victims were rescued.
A statement issued on Sunday by the command’s deputy spokesperson, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, said that information from a victim who escaped led to the pursuit of the kidnappers.
“Following credible information received at about 8:10 am on August 20, 2022, from a man who escaped from a kidnappers’ den on August 18, 2022, men of the state command in collaboration with men of the vigilante group and hunters, laid ambush at Iyuku Forest, where the incident had occurred.
“At about 11:30am, one of the suspected kidnappers, while coming from their hideout with a single barrel gun in hand, ran into the ambush laid by men of the command.
“On sighting the police, the suspect began to fire at the security men but he was neutralised in the process, while the other members of the gang escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
“One locally made single barrel gun and four live cartridges were recovered at the scene, while bush combing is ongoing to arrest the fleeing gang members.
“In a related development, the command also rescued four kidnapped victims in the state, following credible information at the command’s disposal on August 20, that at about 9pm, hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers, dressed in military uniforms, emerged from the bush along the Benin-Akure Road, intercepted a car with Reg no MM 528 AA and whisked away the occupants into the bush.
“Men of the command immediately mobilised to the scene for rigorous bush combing and rescue of the victims and rescued four victims while the kidnappers ran away when they came under severe fire
The four victims rescued are Okolie Chukuka, Samson Ayodele, Ronke Makinde and her five years old daughter,” the statement read.
In a related development, the Delta State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim while two suspected kidnappers involved in the incident were arrested and presently in custody.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, on August 17, 2022, at about 1:45pm, policemen attached to the Eagle-Net patrol team, while on visibility and confidence building patrol along Effurun roundabout, Warri, saw a large crowd beating two men.
The policemen rushed to the scene and rescued the boys from the mob only to discover that the two men were suspected kidnappers as a woman had accused the boys of kidnapping her 17-year-old son earlier that day.
“Upon interrogation, the two suspects, Oti Shevire, 32, and Amos (surname unknown), confessed to the crime and led the policemen to their hideout where the victim was rescued alive, and is currently receiving treatment,” Edafe said.
Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, Ari Mohammed Ali, has emphasised the need for officers and men of the command to not only sustain the tempo in curbing crime and criminality, but also on the importance of stop and search.
The CP also appealed to the people of the state to restrain from jungle justice, saying “no one has the right to take laws into his or her hands, as anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.”