Nigeria: Suspected Kidnappers Abandon Victims After Deadly Shootout

Emma Amaize Obiaruku — Suspected kidnappers on Tuesday shot dead a policeman in Obiaruku area of Delta State and seized his rifle.

They, however, escaped with bullet wounds, abandoning six persons, including the vice chair of Uhumnwonde Local Government Council, Edo State, Mr. Walter Aiwekhoe, who they had earlier abducted, following a gun battle with men of the Special Anti-Kidnap team of the Delta State Police Command.

Vanguard learnt that the kidnap/robbery gang struck in Edo state, where they kidnapped the six persons, at about 10.00 am, along Ekpoka-Igbanke road, and entered into Delta state with their captives in two vehicles, a Sienna space bus and Primera car. Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the killing of the policeman and rescue of the six victims to Vanguard on Tuesday night, said, “The policeman was killed in a separate incident by the robbers/kidnappers, who fired indiscriminately.”

It was gathered that the deceased policeman was in a vehicle handling another case of pipeline vandalization when the suspected kidnappers sighted and shot him.

According to Aduba, “The Special Anti-Kidnap team in Delta state went after the gang when they entered Delta state and a gun duel ensued, forcing them to beat a retreat, abandoning their six victims.”

“While escaping, they opened fire indiscriminately and a policeman, who was on a different assignment, was hit and his rifle carted away,” he said.

Aduba asserted, “Manhunt is on, the daredevil robbers/kidnappers escaped, the policeman died before help could reach him, we have spread our dragnet to nab the hoodlums.”

A source told Vanguard, “A woman and her children were among the six victims, she driving in a KIA Sorento car when she was abducted with her kids.”