Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have neutralised a suspected kidnapper during a gun duel with members of his gang.
gathered that the incident happened around 2am on December 13 following a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer at Ozoro, in the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police, a resident, who lived on Owhelogbo Road, Ozoro, was attacked by the assailants, who forced him into the trunk of his car and drove off.
Upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Ogedengbe Areguamen, reportedly mobilised and led a team of policemen and vigilantes to Owelogbo Road and other parts that exited Ozoro in a bid to rescue the kidnap victim.
It was learnt that the effort paid off when the police team sighted a Toyota Corolla with a number plate that matched the description given by a distress caller.
The suspects were said to have abandoned the victim in the car trunk, disembarked from the vehicle and fired shots at the police while escaping into the bush.
However, the police operatives went after the hoodlums and shot one of them while three others escaped.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, stated that the operatives recovered the vehicle and one locally-made cut-to-size double-barrelled gun, adding that effort was on to arrest the fleeing suspects.
In a related development, men of the Katsina State Police Command on Tuesday killed two suspected terrorists.
According to the police, the hoodlums, along with other members of their gang, invaded Sokoto-Rima Quarters in the Dutsinma LGA of the state around 7.30pm, when they allegedly planned to kidnap some residents.
Policemen, who were alerted to the terrorists’ presence, reportedly moved to the quarters and engaged them in a gun duel.
The spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
He explained that the two hoodlums were gunned down in the encounter, adding that the police also recovered two AK-47 rifles from them.
Meanwhile, some residents in the council area have alleged that some gunmen earlier on Tuesday disrupted classes at Sabon Garin Safana Primary School, also located in the council area, and kidnapped a female teacher, identified only as Amina.
Her colleague, Badiya, reportedly escaped from the gunmen “with serious injuries.”
