Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have killed one suspected kidnapper in a gun battle with the assailants in Iyuku bush in Etsako West LGA of Edo State.
Also, the police have rescued four victims who were allegedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on the Benin-Akure road.
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The command’s spokesman, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who confirmed the incident, said it happened on August 20, 2022.
He explained that a kidnap victim, who escaped from the kidnappers’ den in Iyuku forest, reported the operation of the kidnappers to the police.
He said, following the information, police in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters, laid ambush for the kidnappers in the forest and engaged them in a gun battle.
“One of the suspected kidnappers, while coming from their hideout with a single barrel gun in his hand, ran into the police ambush and on sighting them opened fire and the police responded.
“One of the kidnappers was neutralised in the process while the other members of the gang escaped with injuries,” he said.
He said one locally made single-barrel gun and four live cartridges were recovered from the scene.
He said the four rescued victims were travelling on the Benin-Akure road when suspected kidnappers dressed in military uniforms emerged from the bush, intercepted their vehicle and whisked them into the bush.
Nwanbuzor said the kidnappers also abandoned four of their victims and escaped.
He added that bush combing is ongoing to rescue one of the remaining kidnap victims left, and to arrest the fleeing gang.
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