Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
Operatives of the Delta Police Command have rescued 14 abducted victims from their kidnappers along Aniagbala Community via Ubulu-Uku express road in Aniocha South and Igbide community, Oleh, Isoko South local government areas of the state.
Thirteen of the victims were rescued on Sunday morning after a fierce crossfire between suspected kidnappers and operatives of the Delta Police Command, during which one kidnap suspect was neutralised.
The 14th victim was abducted by about five suspected kidnappers on March 29 and rescued on April 1 by the combined effort of the police and vigilante men.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, made the disclosure on Sunday evening in separate statements made available to journalists.
Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said “today 3/4/2022 at about 0840hours, information got to the Command that a gang of dare devil kidnappers intercepted a 14-seater bus with Reg No M831-FJK along Aniagbala Community via Ubulu-uku express road in Aniocha south LGA, conveying 16 occupants, kidnapped 13 of the passengers and taken to the bush.
“The Delta State Commissioner, of Police CP Ari Muhammed Ali, directed the DPO Ogwashi-Uku Division to lead men into the bush and ensure that the victims were rescued unhurt and also arrest the suspects.
“The DPO, CSP Mohammed Naallah, swiftly led a combined team of Police operatives and Vigilantes into the bush and gave the hoodlums a hot chase which led to exchange of gun fire.
“One of the suspects was hit and died on the spot while the other members of the gang escaped with bullet injuries.
“All 13 kidnapped victims were rescued alive and unhurt and one AK47 rifle was recovered.
“The bush is still being combed with a view to arresting the other fleeing members of the gang.”
Meanwhile, the victim that was abducted by about five suspected kidnappers on March 29, was reportedly kept inside the boot of his blue color Toyota Camry and driven to an isolated bush path in Igbide.
But acting on a tip-off, the hoodlums were intercepted by the police and vigilante operatives led by the DPO Oleh Division, SP Paul Obaware, rescued the victim and arrested one of the suspects, James Michael, a.k.a biggy aged 29 years old who was said to have been on the Command’s wanted list for long.
However, on March 31 at about 11:45a.m, the Command raider’s operatives raided suspected cultists hideouts in Udu/Otu-Jeremi of Udu and Ughelli South LGA’S, arresting 10 suspected cultists were arrested with 101 wraps of SK, four packs of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and 10mg of substances suspected to be cocaine.
Similarly, on April 1, at about 8:25a.m, Raider’s operatives, while acting on credible information, also raided Ogbe-Ogonogo Market area and Glory Land both in Asaba, Oshimili South LGA and arrested a 55-year-old suspected drug baron named Amadu Musa and four other male suspects.
During the raid, 436 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, 30 packets of tramadol and some other illicit drugs were recovered from the drug batons.