Operatives of the Edo State Police Command on Friday rescued five kidnap victims, and arrested two suspected kidnappers in the process.
The suspects were also said to have been found with weapons and ammunition.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the state police spokesperson, Bello Kontongs, the detectives reacted on a tip that suspected kidnappers had halted a vehicle transporting a corpse from Lagos to Imo State along the Ute River, Benin-Lagos route
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Three occupants of the vehicle were claimed to have been kidnapped by the attackers, prompting authorities to respond.
He said, “On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Egba division, SP John Emmanuel, immediately swung into action, mobilising his operatives and the local vigilance group for immediate bush combing. They advanced into Ute forest. After hours of bush combing, they came across the suspected kidnappers. On sighting the police, they (kidnappers) opened fire on them. The team of operatives engaged them in a gun duel.
“The superior fire power of the police operatives made the suspected kidnappers to abandon the victims. However, two of the suspects were apprehended. They are Mohammed Ishaku, 25 and Mubarak Wada, 26, while others escaped with bullet wounds into the thick forest.
Three locally-made guns, two live cartridges, two cutlasses and some charms were also recovered from the suspects.”
Three of the abducted victims who were transporting the corpse were rescued, along with two other victims who had been kidnapped before, according to the PPRO, who added that all of the rescued victims had been brought to a hospital for medical assistance.
He stated that efforts were still being made to apprehend other fleeing gang members.
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