By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Delta State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim while one suspected kidnapper lost his life in the hospital in a bid to be treated of the injury he sustained during a gun duel between the Police and the kidnappers.
In a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, said on 28th December,2022,at about 2215hrs,acting on a tip-off, a victim (name withheld) was said to be kidnapped at Ugborikoko, and the kidnappers were said to be heading towards Agbarho with the victim’s car.
According to the statement, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agbarho Division, deployed operatives to the Warri-Ughelli express-way to carry out intensive stop and search with a view to rescuing the victim and arrest of the suspects.
The statement added that while the Police were carrying out this task, they intercepted a Mercedez GLK SUV (registration number withheld) that matches the description of the victim’s vehicle saying, one suspect named Oghenetega Ovwa ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Ugborikoko, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested.
The statement said, when the police searched the vehicle, one pump-action gun with six (6) rounds of cartridges were recovered. The statement added when investigation was carried out, the suspect confessed to be a member of kidnapping gang who earlier kidnapped the owner of GLK saying, the suspect led the team to their (suspects’) hideout at Ugborikoko in Warri south LGA of the state.
The statement added however, the gang members of the suspect engaged the police in gun duel as he got to their hideout and in the process, the suspect was hit while other members of the gang escaped.
Part of the statement reads:”During the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang that earlier kidnapped the owner of the GLK. He led the team to their hideout at Ugborikoko in Warri South LGA, on arrival at the hideout, his gang members engaged the Police in a gun duel, the suspect was hit during the heavy gun duel, while other members of the gang escaped”.
The statement said, the suspect who sustained serious injuries during the gun duel was taken to the hospital but could not make it as he was confirmed dead. The statement said the efforts are on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang. Meanwhile, the victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with his family.