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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Delta State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the death of two suspected kidnappers during a fierce exchange of fire with security operatives in the Ughelli area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed this in a statement, said the suspects were pronounced dead at the hospital where they were rushed to, following gunshot injuries they sustained during a shootout.
Edafe said a third member of the gang escaped with injuries, adding that their kidnapped victim was rescued.
He said the suspects were fleeing with the victim in a black coloured GLK Mercedes Benz 350 SUV from Ekpan, but got intercepted at Ekekpamre in Ughelli, where the gun duel ensued.
Edafe said a 23-year-old man parked the car along Jakpa Road, left his brother inside and went about other activities in the area.
While he was at it, three armed men attacked the car and drove it off with his brother inside, according to the police spokesman.
He said upon receiving the information about the kidnap, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Wale Abass, directed the DPO, Ekpan, CSP Aliyu Shaba, to mobilise operatives and ensure that the victim was rescued and the suspects arrested and brought to book.
“The DPO, in compliance with the CP’s directive, led a surveillance team attached to Ekpan division for the operation, and acting on a technically generated intelligence, the team proceeded to a bush at Ekakpamre, Ughelli-South LGA, where, upon being sighted by the kidnappers, were staged to a serious gun duel and, in the process of the ensuing gun duel, two of the kidnappers were fatally injured, while one of them escaped with gunshot injuries.
“The kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt. Two single-barrel and one double-barrel guns with two expended cartridges were recovered, alongside the vehicle.
“The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital where they were certified dead by the doctor on duty. Efforts are on to arrest the injured suspect who escaped,” he stated.
