…The two suspects are from Kano State
Two suspected kidnappers have been arrested by men of the Edo state police command.
During the operation, the Police also rescued five persons allegedly kidnapped by the suspects.
The incident happened around the Ute end of the Benin Bypass in Edo state.
The Police received credible information that some suspected kidnappers had barricaded the Lagos road end of the Benin Bypass and had kidnapped some travellers, including an Ambulance driver who was conveying a dead body from Lagos to Imo state, South-Eastern part of Nigeria.
On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) EGBA DIVISION SP JOHN O. EMMANUEL immediately mobilized the Police and the local vigilante members into the forest in Ute up to Ahor villages on the Bypass.
After hours of the forest combing, they found the suspected kidnappers, keeping watch on their victims waiting for ransom.
Upon sighting the Police, the hoodlums opened fire, forcing the Police to retaliate.
In the ensuing gun battle, two of the suspected kidnappers fell to the firepower of the Police leading to their arrests as others suspects took to their heels and escaped into the forest.
Standard Gazette gathered that five of the KIDNAPPED victims were rescued unhurt.
The suspects arrested are Mohammed Ishaku, 25-years and Mubarak Wada, 26.
Three locally made guns, two live cartridges, two Cutlasses and some charms were recovered from them.
An effort is in progress to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
One of the suspects, Mohammed Isiaku, told Standard Gazette, “I am a commercial motorcyclist and l stay under the bridge at the Benin Bypass for work.
“One of the kidnappers who escaped called me to bring food for them in the forest, and I was going when the Police arrested me. I am from Kano state and have been in Benin city for two years”.
The ambulance driver also told Standard Gazette that “I was carrying a dead body from Lagos to Imo state. I got to the Benin bypass around 11 am.
“Suddenly, I saw some persons at the centre of the road, they fired their guns up and forced me to stop. That was how they brought me out from the ambulance and took me into the bush at gunpoint.
“They later called my family and the family members of the dead body to pay five million naira as ransom, or they will kill me. I thank the Police for the rescue. God Bless them.
The commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP PHILIP ALIYU OGBADU, lauded the timely intervention of the Police.
He called for frequent useful information from the public towards checking crime wave.
Standard Gazette