Police kill suspected kidnapper in Delta

The police in Delta State said a suspected member of a gang of kidnappers was killed in Ozoro, a community in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.

The police rescued a victim during the operation, according to Delta police spokesperson Bright Edafe.

Edafe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the suspect was killed on Monday when operatives intercepted members of the gang conveying their victim to an unknown location.

The police spokesperson said the Divisional Police Officer of the Ozoro Police Divisional Headquarters, Ogedengbe Areguamen, had mobilised the police operatives alongside vigilante operatives from Akiweh and Ozoro communities in the state, who stationed along the road conducting “intensive stop and search” operation.

The operation followed a distress call by Mr Areguamen, a chief superintendent of police, that an unnamed man was being conveyed in a Toyota Corolla car by the suspects, he said.

Edafe said the suspects attempted to reverse when they noticed that they were being pursued but that the combined team gave them a “hot chase” and “demobilised” them.

“In the ensuing gun duel, one of the suspects later identified as Oghene Fejiro, ‘m’ 27 years old of Oleh was arrested with gunshot injuries.

“One-cut-to-size double barrel gun, two live cartridges were recovered and the victim who is from Effurun was rescued unhurt and his Toyota car recovered,” Edafe said.

“The injured suspect was taken to the general hospital where he died while receiving treatment.”

Edafe said the police have begun an investigation to track down the other members of a fleeing kidnap gang.