The Edo State Police Command said it has rescued a kidnapped victim, recovered his car and is now on the tail of one of the fleeing gang members.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer and a Superintendent of Police, Moses Joel Yamu, revealed this in a statement to newsmen
Yamu explained that on September 15, 2024 at about 9:15pm, operatives of Ugbowo Division responded to a distress call from one Valentine Igbinevbo of 19th Street, Ugbowo, who said that his silver-coloured Mercedes Benz C350 car with registration number KWL 195 KC was snatched at gunpoint by two armed men.
The distraught man also told police that his friend, Iyobo Ighodaro, 21, was abducted in the car from his hostel.
In a swift response, the Divisional Police Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, John O. Emmanuel, mobilised and personally led a surveillance team, traced the suspects to their hideout in Egor, where they were negotiating for ransom using the victim’s phone.
On sighting the police, a gun battle ensued, where one male suspect, whose identity is yet known, sustained fatal gunshot injuries and was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead, while his colleague is believed to have narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.
Yamu said: “The operatives recovered the said vehicle, one cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge, a cutlass and three phones of a different make.
“Meanwhile, the victim was rescued unhurt, received medical attention and reunited with his loved ones while the corpse of the suspect was deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Nemi Iwo, commended the DPO and his operatives for their effort in combating crime and further warned all criminal elements in the State that their days are numbered if they continue in crime.
