A joint team of the police, local hunters, vigilantes, and anti-cult volunteers successfully engaged a group of kidnap suspects in Abraka, Delta State, resulting in the death of four suspects and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with live ammunition.
The daring operation, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday at about 3:00 am, was launched following actionable intelligence on the activities of a notorious kidnapping gang operating along the Abraka Railway axis.
The coordinated raid, spearheaded by police operatives in Abraka, caught the kidnap gang off guard, leading to a fierce gun battle.
The state police command said four of the suspected kidnappers sustained fatal gunshot wounds and later died, while others fled the scene with injuries.
It said a cache of weapons was recovered from the scene, including an AK-47 rifle and 13 rounds of live ammunition.
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In a preliminary investigation, one of the recently rescued kidnapped victims positively identified one of the deceased suspects as a leader of the gang that abducted him, further confirming the criminal ties of the suspects neutralized in the operation.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, commended the bravery and synergy demonstrated by the combined security forces.
He urged the operatives to maintain the momentum in the ongoing fight against violent crime in the state.
“We remain committed to deepening community engagement and sustaining the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“This successful operation underscores the importance of intelligence-led policing and community partnership,” Olufemi stated.
The police further encouraged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support security efforts by reporting suspicious activities.
