Kidnap suspect gunned down in Delta, another arrested, captives freed

A distress call received by men of the Delta State Police Command has led to the killing of a kidnapper and the arrest of another suspect identified as a Malian following a gun battle which ensued.

According to the state Police Commissioner, Mr Zanna Ibrahim, the police received a distress call at about 7:00am that herdsmen had blocked the Issele-Uku Road, off Asaba-Benin Expressway.

The Commissioner of Police said the force responded through her Dragon and Safe Highway team which rescued a pregnant mother and her two-year- old boy from the kidnappers.

“When we received the call that herdsmen had blocked Issele-Uku Road, our Dragon and Safer Highway team responded, not knowing that it was actually a case of kidnapping. Mr. and Mrs. Onwuchekwa and their two-year-old baby were on their way from Lagos to Enugu when their vehicle was blocked and the hoodlums dragged the pregnant woman and her child into the bush and left the husband.” The CP said.

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Continuing, the CP added that; “We scanned the bush from that morning till about 4:00pm and, as God will have it, we rescued them unhurt and got one of the hoodlums down with the superior fire power of the police and captured another, a Malian. Right now, some of our men are still in the bush to capture their colleagues.”

The kidnapped victim, Mrs. Chioma Onwuchekwa while recounting her ordeal said they were returning to Enugu from Lagos when the kidnappers struck around Issele-Uku junction.

“They broke the glass of our vehicle and dragged me and my baby into the bush, leaving my husband behind. When they took us to the bush, they didn’t do anything to me, they didn’t hurt or tried to rape me.” She said.

Mrs. Onwuchekwa also added that; “They took my husband’s number and I gave them also my sister’s number and they were demanding for N30million, but thank God for the police who came and here I am today to the glory of God.”

 

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