Police rescue kidnap victim, recover vehicle, guns
PORT HARCOURT—Operatives of Rivers State Police Command have rescued a kidnap victim from his armed abductors.
It was gathered that the victim was rescued minutes after he was kidnapped in Oyigbo area of the state, following the swift intervention of the police.
It was learned that police operatives, on getting a distress call, had chased the abductors, resulting in a gun duel, and that the criminals had abandoned the target and fled, following the superior firepower of the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the incident happened on Sunday.
Iringe-Koko in the statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, said police rescued the victim who was abandoned in the vehicle, recovered the operational car used by the kidnappers and one gun.
She said: “On November 17, 2024, about 2023hrs, operatives of the Command received a distress call from the Command’s Control Room indicating that a gang of armed men numbering about four operating in a Black colour Toyota Corolla car shot sporadically and kidnapped one Madabuchi Julius ‘m’ at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.
“Operatives were swiftly mobilised to the scene and the hoodlums on sighting the Police operatives drove off, but they were given a hot chase by the operatives and subsequently intercepted along Egbu Street, Oyigbo and and a gun duel ensued between the Police operatives and the hoodlums.
“The hoodlums could not withstand the Police superior fire power and eventually abandoned the victim and their operational vehicle with registration number RIVERS PHC 938 AH and escaped. The victim was rescued unhurt and the vehicle recovered.
“Investigation is ongoing while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover their operational weapons.”
Iringe-Koko noted the police in another development arrested some suspected criminals and recovered some items.
“In a related development, on November 18, 2024, about 22:48hrs, operatives of the Command acted on a credible piece of information, coordinated a covert operation at St Lorinta Street, Oyigbo, arrested one Gabriel Morris, aged 25yrs, ‘m’ of Mercy Ground, Kom-Kom, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed being members of a syndicate that has been terrorising Oyigbo and its environs in recent times. Items recovered from the suspect include one locally made Pistol, quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.”
The said investigations were still ongoing and efforts intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gangs.
