Juliana Francis
The Edo State Police Command has rescued 33 people, including a three-year-old child, all suspected to be kidnapped victims.
In a press release signed by Edo State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Jennifer Iwegbu, said that the feat was achieved through Uronigbe Divisional Headquarters, in Orhihonwon Local Government Area, Edo State on the 13th of August 2022.
She said: “Edo State Police Command rescued 34 kidnapped victims, 32 of them were mostly children, along the Benin-Agbor expressway. Following credible information received from members of the public that at about 6:00 p.m 12th of August 2022, hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers emerged from the bush along the Agbor-Uronigbe-Obiaruku expressway and kidnapped occupants of a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Agbor to Warri, with registration number DT513B2, conveying football players of Itugbe Kings Club, Warri Delta State and whisked them into the bush.”
Iwegbu explained that on receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately mobilised his team of police operatives in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and tactical team from Delta State Police Command at the state boundary and swung into action.
She stated that the combined team embarked on rigorous bush combing which lasted for several hours resulting in the rescue of 32 of the victims unhurt. “While they were been profiled to ensure that all were rescued, it was discovered that five were still missing. Intense bush combing is ongoing to rescue the other five victims unhurt,” said Iwegbu.
Earlier the hoodlums had attacked the two occupants of a Toyota Corolla car with registration number EDL642DL, travelling from Bayelsa to Agbor, one of the occupants, Ibegu Daguapu was shot in his right shoulder. The victim is receiving treatment at the medical facility.
