By Milcah Tanimu
Police in Delta State have taken down four kidnapping suspects in the wake of a series of reported abduction incidents along the Jesse axis. The State Police Command revealed that their patrol units encountered an armed gang of bandits who had been lurking in the bushes, targeting unsuspecting motorists.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, issued a statement on the matter, which was shared with journalists in Warri. The statement highlighted that in response to public concerns about suspected kidnappers in the Jesse forests along the Warri-Benin highway, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, had directed the deployment of Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad operatives and others to the area.
According to the statement, on September 18, 2023, a joint patrol along Jesse – Igueleba in Edo State encountered an armed bandit gang lying in wait in the bush to ambush and abduct unsuspecting motorists. The criminals, upon noticing the police team, opened fire on the lead pickup van, disabling the vehicle.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) explained that the armed gang eventually succumbed to the superior firepower of the pursuing police officers as they retreated into the deep forest. This encounter resulted in the fatal injury of four suspected kidnappers. Additionally, an AK47 rifle with 25 rounds of live ammunition was recovered from the gang, while the wounded suspects were transported to the hospital for treatment, where they were later declared deceased.
CP Abass commended the bravery of the security operatives and urged them to continue their efforts in combating kidnapping and other criminal activities. He also appealed to the public to provide the police with credible information to aid in their ongoing fight against crime.
