Police neutralise four kidnap suspects in Delta… 

Barely one week after reported incidences of kidnappings along Jesse axis of Delta State, the Police Command in the state, on Wednesday, affirmed that its patrol teams “have encountered a gang of armed bandits who laid wait in the bush to attack and kidnap unsuspecting motorists” and neutralised the suspects.

This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday.

The statement noted that following public outcry on the presence of suspected kidnappers in the Jesse forests along the Warri-Benin highway, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass on September 12 directed the deployment of operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad team among others to the area.

According to the statement, “On September 18, 2023, during a joint patrol along Jesse – Igueleba in Edo State, the team encountered a gang of armed bandits who laid wait in the bush to attack and kidnap unsuspecting motorists.

“The hoodlums who apparently sighted the police team, fired at the front tyre of the lead pickup van, thus demobilizing the vehicle.”

The PPRO stated that the armed gangsters eventually succumbed to the superior firepower of the policemen who pursued them into the deep forest during which four suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded.

One AK47 rifle with 25 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang while the wounded suspects were taken to the hospital for treatment, where they were later certified dead.

CP Abass while applauding the gallantry of the security operatives, admonished them to do more and continue in the fight against kidnapping and other vices.

The police boss also appealed to members of the public to always provide the Command with credible information that would help the police in this fight.