Delta: Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Rescue Victim

The Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police Force said it has rescued a kidnapped victim in a recent gun duel with kidnappers.

However, a member of the kidnapping gang was killed by the police team, who acted on intelligence about the kidnapper’s movement.

Naija News learnt that the kidnappers abducted the victim (name withheld) at Ugborikoko on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

The victim was said to be driving through the route at about 10:15 pm when the kidnappers ambushed him and zoomed away with his car.

The police command was informed that the kidnappers were heading toward Agbarho with the victim’s car.

Acting on information, the Divisional Police Officer Agbarho Division reportedly deployed officers to the Warri-Ughelli Expressway to carry out an intensive stop and search with a view to rescuing the victim and arresting the suspects.

Naija News learnt that while the police were carrying out the search, they intercepted a Mercedez GLK SUV (registration number withheld) that matched the description of the victim’s vehicle.

The suspect, Oghenetega Ovwa, aged 25 years from Ugborikoko, who was driving the vehicle, was instantly arrested. Upon searching the vehicle, the police recovered one pump action gun with six rounds of cartridges.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, stated that during the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang that had earlier kidnapped the owner of the Mercedes car.

He then led the team to their hideout at Ugborikoko in Warri South Local Government Area, where, on arrival, the gang members engaged the police in a gun duel.

Edafe said the suspect was hit during the heavy gun duel while other gang members escaped. The victim was rescued unhurt and has been reunited with his family.

He revealed further that the suspect, who sustained serious gunshot injuries during the gun duel, was taken to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

Meanwhile, a manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing, according to the police spokesperson.