From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Delta State Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of a fleeing suspect during a shoot out with operatives in the Abraka area of the state.
Another suspected member of the gang, who sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire, was arrested. Besides, the kidnapped victim was rescued, according to the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.
Edafe in a statement, said operatives of Abraka Police Station were on routine patrol along Campus III Road, when they were alerted of a kidnap incident at a filling station in Abraka by a gang of four armed men. He said the hoodlums were operating in a silver coloured Lexus SUV with registration number KSF 315 HF.
“The team swiftly mobilised and went on the trail of the kidnappers. The suspects on noticing that the policemen were closing in on them, fired gunshots while trying to escape, and the police responded bravely.
“Due to the superior firepower of the police, their operational vehicle was successfully demobilised, which made the hoodlums abandon the victim, jumped out of the vehicle, took to their heels in different directions, while firing gunshots in a bid to escape.
“The combat-ready policemen engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and successfully neutralised one of them, arrested one other with serious gunshot injuries while two others escaped.
“One AK-47 rifle with breech number 06571 without magazine was recovered,” Edafe stated.
He added that the kidnapped victim has since been reunited with his family, and that manhunt for the other fleeing gang members was ongoing.