Brave Policemen storm deadly kidnappers den, rescue over 20 kidnap victims

The Police Command in Edo, on Friday said it rescued no fewer than 20 kidnap victims across the state in the last two weeks. File: Police officers Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olusegun Odumosu, disclosed this in Benin while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements during the period. Odumosu also revealed that 83 suspects were arrested for various crimes in the state, adding that 55 of them were held in connection with cultism, and 15 suspects for armed robbery.

He said that 11 suspects were arrested for alleged murder, and that the murder suspects included five persons arrested in connection with the murder of a police officer in Benin metropolis on Saturday. 

He added that 10 arms and ammunitions and 55 live cartridges were recovered from suspects during the period. 

“Also recovered within the period were six vehicles, two battle axes and cash of N200, 800.” Odumosu said that some of the suspects had been charged to court, while cases of others were still being investigated preparatory for prosecution. He, however, advised people with domestic staff to put the staff under watch, saying that the issue of pants and pad rituals were gradually creeping into the state. 

According to him, so far, one suspect has been arrested and the suspect has made confessional statement.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State Police command on Wednesday said it has rescued a kidnap victim, Righteous Inimme, who was abducted May 3 at the New GRA area of Port Harcourt. 

The state command’s spokesperson, Muhammad Ahmad, said police operatives, acting on credible information at about 12.30 p.m., stormed the suspected kidnapper’s den at NDDC Road, off Iwofe Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, where the victim was kept. 

Mr. Ahmad said the victim was safely rescued while two of the suspected kidnappers who sustained gunshot wounds died on the way to the hospital.

Also, one AK-47 rifle and a Barretta pistol with 20 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, he said. The police spokesperson expressed the command’s appreciation for the information that led to the victim’s rescue. He encouraged members of the public with information to always reach out to the police, promising that their identity will strictly remain confidential.