Not fewer than thirty-four kidnapped victims have been rescued by the Edo State Police Command on Saturday.
This was disclosed in a statement by the state Deputy Spokesman of Police, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu on Monday saying that the victims were reduced along Benin-Agbor expressway.
He said the operation was carried out by the officers in charge of Uronigbe Divisional Headquarters in Orhihonwon local government area of the state.
“The Edo State Police Command through its Uronigbe Divisional Headquarters, in Orhihonwon local government area, Edo state on 13/08/202 rescued 34 kidnapped victims, who 32 of them were mostly children, along the Benin-Agbor expressway.
“Following credible information received from members of the public that at about 1806hrs of 12/08/2022 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 reg number DT513B2 conveying football players of Itugbe Kings Club, Warri Delta state and whisked them into the bush.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer 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.
“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 5 were still missing. Intense bush combing is ongoing to rescue the other five victims unhurt.
The statement further added that the hoodlums had earlier attacked one Toyota Corolla where one of the two occupants in the car was shot in his right shoulder.
“Earlier the hoodlums had attacked the two occupants of one Toyota Corolla car with reg number EDL642DL, travelling from Bayelsa to Agbor, one of the occupants, Ibegu Daguapu ‘M’ was shot in his right shoulder.The victim is receiving treatment at the medical facility.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, assures all good people of Edo State, that the command under his watch would not relent on its responsibility of protecting life and Property.
“While thanking the general public for always providing the police with prompt and credible information, the CP further employs the citizenry to continue to partner with the Police, as all viable and prompt information would be treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.”