By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Delta State Police Command in a confrontation between security operatives and suspected kidnappers in the Ughelli area of Delta State, two of the suspects were killed was confirmed on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by DSP Bright Edafe, Public Relations Officer of the command, he said, the deceased suspects succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the exchange of fire and were pronounced dead at the hospital where they were rushed for treatment.
During the operation, a third member of the kidnapping gang managed to escape with injuries, but the kidnapped victim was successfully rescued. The incident unfolded when the suspects, driving a black GLK Mercedes Benz 350 SUV with their victim, were intercepted at Ekekpamre in Ughelli after fleeing from Ekpan. The ensuing gun battle occurred at this location.
According to Edafe, a 23-year-old man had parked the vehicle along Jakpa Road, leaving his brother inside while attending to other activities. Three armed men attacked the car and drove off with his brother inside.
Upon receiving information about the abduction, CP Wale Abass, Commissioner of Police for Delta State instructed CSP Aliyu Shaba, DPO Ekpan to mobilize operatives for the rescue operation and the apprehension of the suspects.
In compliance with the Commissioner’s directive, the DPO led a surveillance team to Ekakpamre, Ughelli-South LGA, where a gun battle ensued upon being sighted by the kidnappers. Two of the suspects sustained fatal injuries in the exchange, while one escaped with gunshot injuries. The rescued victim was unharmed. Two single-barrel and one double-barrel guns, along with two expended cartridges, were recovered, in addition to the apprehension of the vehicle.
The two fatally injured suspects were declared dead by the attending doctor at the hospital, and efforts are underway to apprehend the injured suspect who managed to escape.