Operatives of the Edo Police Command have rescued six kidnapped victims along the Benin-Ekpoma Road.
Spokesperson of the command, Kottongs Bello, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, July 8, said two suspected kidnappers were also arrested in the process.
“On 07/07/2021 at about 1840HRS, Operatives of Edo State Police Command, Egba Divisional Headquarters acting on credible information from members of the public that a Toyota Sienna Bus Reg. No. EDO RRU 780 NE driving by Eric Ehiaguna ‘m’ belonging to a Private Transport Company coming from Ekpoma to Benin City was intercepted by hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers at Igue-Ozevbaru and kidnapped all the occupants in the process and forced them into the forest,” he stated.
“The un-relenting DPO Egba Division, SP John Emmanuel, swiftly mobilized his patrol teams, safer high way, military and vigilante groups into the bush for immediate bush combing with a view to ensure the safe rescue of the kidnapped victims.
“The Police operatives’ team led by the DPO swooped on the kidnappers while leading the victims into the thick forest. The security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel around Obadan forest. The hoodlums then abandoned all the six (6) kidnapped victims including the driver Eric Ehiaguna “m” and fled into the bush”, the statement added.
The PPRO said two of the kidnappers by name Abdulkarim Kazeem, 40 years and Odoh Chukchekua, 40, was arrested in the process while others escaped with injuries.
The Command warned criminal elements in Edo State to repent or relocate from the State or risk been arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law
The command appealed to the law-abiding citizens of the state and the general public to go about their lawful businesses without fear of intimidation or molestation, assuring that the Police would not relent in its efforts to make the state safe for economic activities.
