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The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday killed three suspected kidnappers and rescued an abducted 13-month-old baby in Achigbor Community, along the Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.
The state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the police got a tip-off from the mother of the baby before going after the kidnappers.
He said the kidnappers, upon sighting the police, threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on the policemen, adding that three of the abductors were shot dead.
Iwegbu said, “In its continuous bid to tackle kidnapping, the Edo State Police Command has neutralised three kidnappers. A distraught resident, Elizabeth Ojo, 42, of Achigbor Community along Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State, around 7.30pm on September 13, 2022, raised an alarm that the kidnappers came to her compound in Achigbor Community, along Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde LGA.
“The police operatives working along that axis immediately mobilised to the scene where they came to an empty compound that had been vandalised. On enquiry, Ojo said some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers vandalised her property and took her 13-month-old baby into the bush.
“The operatives immediately moved into the bush for possible rescue of the baby. The kidnappers, on sighting the police, threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on them. In the fire fight with the police operatives, three of the six kidnappers succumbed to our superior firepower.
“The other three are still on the run while bush combing of that area is still ongoing. The baby was rescued unhurt and handed over to the mother, while one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one cutlass and one battle axe were recovered at the scene.”
In a similar development, the Kwara State Police Command also confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of two victims who were abducted from their home in Shao, in the Moro Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement, identified the rescued victims as Afusat Lawal and her son, Taofeek.
He said the mother and son were rescued by a combined team of the police, vigilance members and local hunters, adding that the kidnappers were accosted in the bush while sharing the loot received from the family of the kidnapped victims.
He said, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public that the victims have been rescued after an intensive and painstaking search and rescue operation by the command’s tactical teams, supported by vigilantes and hunters.
“The kidnappers were accosted in the bush while sharing the ransom collected from the family of the victims, and opened fire on the operatives immediately.
“During an exchange of fire, two of the kidnappers that suffered gunshot injuries during the encounter were arrested and taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where they were confirmed dead.
“Consequently, their corpses were deposited in the hospital mortuary for autopsy. Exhibits recovered from the kidnappers include one Honda Accord Saloon car with number plate LAGOS GJ 52 LSR, one single barrel gun and an unspecified amount of money.”
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