Police engage kidnappers in serious gun battle, rescue 2 victims

A gang of four alleged kidnappers was intercepted and engaged in a gun battle by police officers at the ECN intersection of Agbarho/Ughelli Road, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, rescuing two victims.

Mr. Bright Edafe, the state command’s police public relations officer, said in a statement yesterday that the suspects ran into the woods with varying degrees of bullet injuries.

“On 24/04/2023 at about 0200hrs, the DPO Owvian Aladja, CSP Aliyu Shaba received a distress call that two persons, Ovigwe Dagagba ‘m’ 31years old and Obinna Nwanko ‘m’ age 29 years old both of Usiefurun community, Ughelli south LGA, were intercepted and kidnapped by a gang of four suspected kidnappers operating on a tricycle and  conveyed them in a Toyota corolla car belonging to one of the victims from Usiefurun roundabout and headed towards Udu LGA.

“The DPO CSP Aliyu Shaba, on receipt of this information, swiftly mobilized and led a team of police operatives, trailed and intercepted the kidnappers at ECN junction along Agbarho/Ughelli road. 

“The police operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel that forced the kidnappers to abandon the car, the kidnapped victims, and escaped into the bush with various degree of bullet injuries. The victims were rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their families. 

“Upon search of the vehicle, 26 pieces of assorted android phones, one cut-to-size locally made single barrel gun, 38 rounds of live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two Monie point POS machines,  four power banks, two empty female hand bags were recovered. 

“The tricycle with reg no. KPE 73 QT used by the suspected kidnappers was also recovered. 

“While manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing, the deputy commissioner of police in-charge Operations DCP Johnson Adenola has directed officers and men of the Command to sustain this tempo in the fight against crime and criminality and also urges members of the public to report any suspicious person or movement around them.”