Police Kill 3 Kidnappers, Rescue Baby In Edo

Three suspected kidnappers were killed by operatives of the Edo State Police Command in Achigbor Community, along the Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.

A 13 month old baby who was abducted was also rescued.

Confirming the development on Wednesday, the state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu said the police got a tip-off from the mother of the baby before going after the kidnappers.

He said the kidnappers, upon sighting the police, threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on the policemen, adding that three of the abductors were shot dead.

Iwegbu said, “In its continuous bid to tackle kidnapping, the Edo State Police Command has neutralised three kidnappers. A distraught resident, Elizabeth Ojo, 42, of Achigbor Community along Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State, around 7.30pm on September 13, 2022, raised an alarm that the kidnappers came to her compound in Achigbor Community, along Benin-Auchi Road, in Uhunmwonde LGA.

“The police operatives working along that axis immediately mobilised to the scene where they came to an empty compound that had been vandalised. On enquiry, Ojo said some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers vandalised her property and took her 13-month-old baby into the bush.

“The operatives immediately moved into the bush for possible rescue of the baby. The kidnappers, on sighting the police, threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on them. In the fire fight with the police operatives, three of the six kidnappers succumbed to our superior firepower.

“The other three are still on the run while bush combing of that area is still ongoing. The baby was rescued unhurt and handed over to the mother, while one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one cutlass and one battle axe were recovered at the scene”, the statement added.