Police kill suspected kidnapper in Benin, rescue victim
Operatives of the Edo Police Command have neutralised a suspected kidnapper and rescued his victim in the Egor area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Moses Yamu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin.
Yamu explained that the suspect allegedly ambushed his victim, Iyobo Ighodaro, at gunpoint while he was in his silver Mercedes Benz C350 and abducted him.
He said one Valentine Igbinevbo reported the incident to the Ugbowo Police Station on 15 September.
Yamu added that the Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Emmanuel, swiftly mobilised and led a surveillance team to track the suspects to their hideout in Egor, on the outskirts of Benin.
At the hideout, the suspects were reportedly negotiating a ransom using the victim’s phone.
“Upon sighting the police, a gun battle ensued, and one male suspect, whose identity is yet unknown, sustained fatal gunshot injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead.
“The second suspect is believed to have narrowly escaped with gunshot wounds.”
The operatives recovered the vehicle, a cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge, a cutlass, and three phones.
“The victim was rescued unhurt, received medical attention, and was reunited with his loved ones. The suspect’s body has been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The police spokesperson quoted the state’s Commissioner of Police, Nemi Iwo, who commended the DPO and his operatives for their efforts in combating crime.
The commissioner also warned all criminal elements in the state that their days were numbered if they continued in their criminal activities.
