Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command rescued a kidnapping victim and recovered the kidnappers’ operational vehicle on November 17, 2024.

The victim, Madabuchi Julius, was abducted at Sabbath Filling Station in Oyigbo by a gang of four armed men in a black Toyota Corolla.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement, yesterday, said swift response from the police operatives led to a hot chase, culminating in a gun duel along Egbu Street, Oyigbo.

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The kidnappers, unable to withstand the police firepower, abandoned their vehicle with registration number RIVERS PHC 938 AH and fled. Fortunately, the victim was rescued unharmed.

She said: “Operatives were swiftly mobilized 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 a gun duel ensued between the Police Operatives and the hoodlums.

“The hoodlums could not withstand the Police’s superior firepower 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.”

Iringe-Koko noted that the police also made another breakthrough on November 18, 2014, with the arrest of Gabriel Morris, 25, a confessed member of a syndicate terrorizing Oyigbo.

She added that a locally-made pistol and suspected Indian hemp were recovered from him.

According to her, the achievement is part of the Command’s broader efforts to tackle kidnapping and crime in the state, saying that the Investigation is ongoing and concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.