[News] Police gun down suspected kidnapper, arrest one and rescue victim in Delta

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have killed a suspected kidnapper, arrested one other and rescued a kidnap victim in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, June 12, 2023, said two members of the four-man gang escaped with gunshot injuries during the exchange of gunfire.

According to the PPRO, operatives of the Abraka Police Station were alerted that the gang kidnapped the victim at a filling station on Sunday, June 11.

“On 11/06/2023 at about 2109hrs, operatives of Abraka police station led by the DPO SP Fabian Ayameh, while on routine patrol along campus III road Abraka, Ethiope East LGA, they were alerted of a kidnap incident at a filling station in Abraka by a gang of four armed men operating in a silver coloured Lexus SUV with reg. no. KSF 315 HF,” the statement read.

“The team swiftly mobilized and went on the trail of the kidnappers. The suspects on noticing that the policemen were closing in on them, fired gunshots while trying to escape, and the police responded bravely.

“Due to the superior firepower of the police, their operational vehicle was successfully demobilized which made the hoodlums to abandon the victim, jumped out of the vehicle, took to their heels running in different directions while firing gunshots in a bid to escape.

“The combact ready policemen engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and successfully neutralized one of them, arrested one other with serious gunshot injuries while two others escaped.

“One AK 47 rifle with breech no 06571 without magazine was recovered. The victim who was kidnapped at the filling station has since been reunited with his family. Manhunt for the other fleeing suspect is ongoing.

“The Commissioner of Police Delta state CP Wale Abass, while commending the DPO Abraka and his men for their courage and achievement, admonished them to sustain the tempo. He also assures Deltans that the command will continue to sustain peace and security in the state and also reiterated that Delta state will be very hot for criminals until they quit or relocate as the state will never be a safe haven for them.”