By Samuel Ogude (Warri)
Reports reaching Bailout Magazine say the Delta State Police Command have neutralized one suspected kidnapper just as the kidnapped victim rescued and one cut-to size gun was recovered. In a press statement signed by the Delta Police Command lmage Maker, DSP Bright Edafe , Asaba, Delta State, and made available to newsmen, said on the 6th March 2023 at about 0015hrs, the DPO Ozoro Division received a distress call that one man (name withheld) was kidnapped and is being conveyed in his Toyota Corolla car and that the kidnappers were along Akiweh Express heading towards Ozoro town.
The statement added that the DPO Ozoro Division, CSP Ogedengbe Areguamen, swiftly mobilized and led a combined team of Police and vigilantes from Ozoro and Akiweh Communities saying, they created a partial hold up on the road and conducted intensive stop and search adding, they were able to sight the said Toyota Corolla car.
The statement said in a bid to stop the vehicle, the driver made a U-turn in an attempt to escape but the team gave them a hot chase, demobilized the vehicle, which precipitated the suspects to abandon the victim and fled to the bush while firing at the Police.
The statement added that, in the ensuing gun duel, one of the suspects later identified as Oghene Fejiro ‘m’ 27 years of Oleh was arrested with gunshot injuries and one cut-to-size double barrel gun, two (2) live cartridges were recovered and the kidnapped victim who is said to have come from Effurun was rescued unhurt and his Toyota car recovered.
Part of the statement reads:”
“In a bid to stop the vehicle, the driver made a U-turn in an attempt to escape but the team gave them a hot chase, demobilized the vehicle, which precipitated the suspects to abandon the victim and fled to the bush while firing at the Police”.
The statement said, the injured suspect was taken to the general hospital but he couldn’t make it as he died while receiving treatment. As the time of filling in this report, investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting the other fleeing members of the syndicate.
In a related development, on the 23th February 2023 at about 2230hrs, operatives of Agbarho Division led by DSP Habu Haman received credible information about a suspected armed robber/cultist known as Kingsley Vejeta ‘m’ of Ekrerhavwe Community, Agbarho, who has been terrorizing Agbarho, Ughelli and environs in recent time.
The statement added that the operatives, in a combined efforts with the community vigilantes, stormed his hideout and arrested the said suspect. The statement said in the course of investigation and interrogation of the suspect, he made useful statement and at about 0230 hours, he led the Police to the hideout of his other gang members at Ekrehavwe, Agbarho in Ughelli North LGA. The statement said, as soon as the suspects sighted the Police, they took to their heels and in the process, seven (7) locally made cut-to-size guns, and four (4) live cartridges were recovered just as manhunt for the other fleeing suspects is ongoing.