Vigilant police operatives have rescued three kidnapped victims from their abductors in Delta State, The Nigerian Xpress has learnt.
Checks also revealed that efforts are also being intensified by the operatives to arrest the suspected kidnappers who fled during a crossfire.
It was also gathered reliably that the victims were kidnapped on the new year Eve at about 1.20am while many Christian worshippers were rejoicing for crossing over to the New Year.
The police detectives attached to Orerokpe Division sighted the victims when being dragged into the bush by their captors. The detectives were said to be on visibility patrol duty along Warri/Sapele road by Okuvo and Egborede communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the operation in a release issued last weekend.
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The release read, ” On 31/12/2022, at about 0120hours, while police operatives attached to Orerokpe Division were on visibility patrol duty along Warri/Sapele road by Okuvo and Egborede Communities, they sighted some persons being dragged into the bush.
“The operatives suspected that they may have been kidnapped, so they trailed them into the bush.
“The hoodlums, upon realising that the policemen were closing in on them, opened fire on the team, and the policeman equally responded.
“The hoodlums who could not withstand the firepower of the operatives abandoned the victims and escaped.
“The victims (names withheld) aged 40yrs, 54yrs and 49yrs respectively, were rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their families.
“Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing”.
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A firearm, which is a cut- to- size pistol, Edafe stated that it was recovered from a black handbag that fell from the tricycle of an escaped suspected hoodlum.
His words, “In another development, on 29/12/2022, while Police operatives attached to ‘A’ division Warri were on stop and search duty at the front of Daudu police outpost, Kpesu community Warri, they sighted a tricycle driving against traffic.
“In an attempt to stop them, the suspects dangerously maneuver the tricycle and escaped, but in the process, a black handbag fell from the tricycle.
“Upon searching the bag, one locally made cut-to-size pistol was recovered. Efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are on-going”.