The Delta State Police Command has announced the rescue of three kidnapped victims and the arrest of a suspected kidnapper in the Egbudu-Akah community area of the state.
The spokesperson for the command in the state, SP Bright Edafe, made this statement on Tuesday in Asaba.
He said, “On Monday, March 25, 2024, a concerned citizen (name withheld) was going about his hunting in the thick forest in Egbudu-Akah community, Aniocha South LGA, he sighted a group of people suspected to be kidnappers, and their helpless kidnapped victims.
“He quickly ran out from the bush and reported what he had seen to the police. Upon receiving this information, the DPO in coordinated operation, mobilised his patrol team and men of the vigilante, as they charged swiftly into the forest on a rescue mission.
“While the operatives were about to draw close to the den of these kidnappers, they were sighted by the suspected kidnappers which necessitated the criminals to take to their hills as they exchanged fire with the team of officers in a bid to escape.
“In the process of the exchange of fire, one of the suspected kidnappers was arrested and all three kidnapped female victims were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical attention.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that all the victims were kidnapped on their way to the hospital. It was also revealed that the said suspected kidnappers earlier demanded N15m ransom for their release.”
Edafe stated that items such as three cutlasses, two TECNO phones, a solar panel, a power bank, and charms, among others, were recovered.
He added that the suspect and the recovered items have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigations.