Kidnapper shot dead in Edo

A hoodlum suspected to be a kidnapper was on Tuesday shot dead by operatives of the Edo State Police Command.

It was gathered that the suspect was killed during a gun duel along the Benin-Auchi road, in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.

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It was gathered that the gunmen blocked the road with intent to kidnap road users when the police ran into them, and in the process, one of them was killed while others escaped with bullet wounds into the bush.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Kontongs Bello, confirmed the incident.

He said the police responded to a distress call that hoodlums have blocked Benin-Auchi road by Okhuo Hill with barricades and waiting for upcoming vehicles to rob and kidnap travelers.

He said the hoodlums on sighting the police officers engaged them in a gun battle but in the process, one of the hoodlums was shot dead.

He said one locally-made single barrel gun, seven live cartridges and a smartphone were recovered at the scene.

Efforts are on to arrest other gang members who escaped with bullet wounds, he added.