Police kill kidnapper in Edo

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have killed a suspected kidnapper on Amedokhian-Ugboha road in Uromi town in Esan North East LGA.

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, explained that operatives of Uromi Division encountered some suspected kidnappers while carrying out a bush combing operation behind the Federal Polytechnic, Uromi, and that the suspects opened fire on the operatives to which they replied.

He further said, “During the gun battle, one of the kidnappers was brought down due to the superior firepower of the police while the others escaped.

He added that one AK-47 rifle with nine rounds of live ammunition was recovered and that the corpse was deposited at St Camillus Catholic Hospital, Uromi.

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In a related development, the police and vigilantes arrested nine suspects, including a couple, over alleged kidnapping in Esan North East LGSA.

CP Adegboye explained that Uromi Division received a report from Daniel Ibhahebhomen, the Sector 1 Commander of the Edo State Security Network, Uromi, that one Asene Ogah, an ex-convict, was invited by Hope Oboh Odianosen, Ikekhua Ehiamen and others who were members of a gang of kidnappers to join them in their operations.

He said the suspects, Hope Ibhazukor, Odianosen Oboh, Charity Oboh, Ikekhua Ehiamen (juju priest), Kenneth Christopher, Saturday Patrick, Eric Itoha, Emeka Ojon, who were all ex-convicts, were arrested in different parts of Uromi.

He further said that, “Members of his (Asene Ogah – recently released after serving seven years in jail) community on hearing of the suspect’s arrest jubilated throughout the night. They sent representatives to the command to say that we should not let the suspect return to the community.”

He listed items recovered from them to include one double-barrel gun, a Dane gun, cartridges, a box containing charms and two toy pistols.