From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Some suspected kidnappers in Delta State at the weekend, abandoned a male victim in an uncompleted building as they were being trailed by operatives of the state police command.
The victim (name withheld) was seized by the hoodlums at Ugolo community in Okpe Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident on Monday in a statement, Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, said the victim was rescued unhurt and has since re-united with his family.
Edafe said through a technically intelligence-led investigation, operatives stormed the hideout of the hoodlums who swiftly relocated to Erueni where they were negotiating ransom.
“Again, the team relentlessly trailed these miscreants to their new hideout, where they were eventually forced to abandon the kidnapped victim in an uncompleted building and escape.
“The victim was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with his family. Effort to arrest the fleeing suspects is ongoing,” he stated.
Edafe disclosed that the command apprehended a suspected armed robbery, one Israel Akitia (34) with one locally fabricated cut-to-size gun with three live cartridges at his residence also in Ugolo community
In a related case, Edafe said operatives recovered one locally fabricated pistol from an abandoned bag by fleeing suspects in Agbarho area of the state.
He said operatives in conjunction with local vigilante were on stop and search duty “along Five Junction axis, Agbarho, where they sighted two adult male suspects who on sighting the patrol team, threw their bag away, and took to their heels into a nearby bush.
“A further search was done on the bag, and one {01} locally fabricated pistol was recovered. Exhibit is in custody, and effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects.”