Nigerian Police have shot and killed two suspected kidnappers in Edo State.
Mohammed Umar, 23 and his alleged accomplice Bashir Saidu, 30, were killed last night, 27 July 2022, in a forest around Urukosa in Uhunmwonde, a local government area in Edo State.
Mohammed, popularly known as Smally Bokolo and Bashir, was first arrested on suspicion of robbery and kidnapping.
Standard Gazette gathered that the duo belonged to a 6-man gang abducting innocent travellers along Benin-Auchi road.
The gang snatched cars, which they sometimes use to barricade highways to slow down their victims before attacks.
Standard Gazette gathered that after the duo’s arrested, they assisted the police, confessed to the crime and led the police to their armoury in Ogueka community in Uhumwonde local government.
The police recovered one Ak49 rifle, 34 live ammunition, two single barrel guns and 5 live cartridges from the pit.
In an attempt to ambush the armed policemen and escape, the suspects allegedly volunteered to take the police to another hideout in Urokhosa, unknown to the police that they were being led right into their criminal hideouts.
The police said the hoodlums opened fire at them upon approaching their hideout, and the two suspects who led the team were shot and killed at the scene.
SG could not ascertain if any other members of the gang were arrested or shot during the bold ambush. However, officers have continued to ransack the forest.
Edo State Police Public Relations Office, SP Chidi Nwabuzor assured the police would continue to neutralise kidnappers operating in Edo State.
Standard Gazette