Police kill 2 suspected kidnappers, recover weapons in Delta

The Delta State Police Command has neutralised two suspected kidnappers and recovered assorted weapons from them.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Warri.

Edafe said the suspects were neutralised on Sunday by the police patrol team attached to the “B Division, Warri.

He said the incident happened in the neighbourhood of Upper Erejuwa Street in Warri South LGA of the state.

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Edafe explained that the deceased were earlier apprehended on Saturday by the police patrol team while on a night surveillance patrol at the Okumagba Estate roundabout in Warri South.

“On December 24, 2022, the police patrol team intercepted a tricycle with two male occupants and subjected them to a search.

“During the search, three live cartridges concealed under the seat of the tricycle were recovered,” he said.

Edafe said the suspects were taken into custody, adding that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a five-man kidnapping syndicate operating in Warri and environs.

“Acting on their confessions, on Dec. 25, the suspects led the police operatives to their hideout at a house located at Upper Erejuwa Street, where one AK-49 rifle with Breach Number 11876, one locally-made double-barrelled long gun, and two machetes were recovered,” he said.

The command’s spokesman explained that on their way back to the police station, the two suspects jumped out of the moving police Hilux vehicle in an attempt to escape, adding that the police went after them.

“In a bid to demobilise them, they were maimed by the operatives and re-arrested. The suspects gave up the ghost while they were being taken to the hospital,” he said.

Edafe said a manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is on. (NAN)