The Rivers State Police command has rescued a kidnapped victim, Mr. Madabuchi Julius, from daredevil kidnappers in Oyigbo local government area of the state, after a gun battle between the gang and the police.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The PPRO said that on November 17, 2024, operatives of the Command received a distress call from their Control Room indicating that a gang of armed men numbering about four operating in a black colour Toyota Corolla car, shot sporadically and kidnapped victim at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.
She said the operatives were swiftly mobilized to the scene and the hoodlums on sighting the Police drove off, but were intercepted along Egbu Street, Oyigbo and a gun duel ensued between the operatives and the hoodlums.
According to the PPRO, the gang could not withstand the police superior fire power, and eventually abandoned the victim and their operational vehicle with registration number :PHC 938 AH and escaped.
The operatives rescued the victim unhurt and recovered the vehicle.
In a related development, on November 18, 2024, operatives of the Command acted on credible information, coordinated a covert operation at St Lorinta Street, Oyigbo, and arrested 25 years old Gabriel Morris, of Mercy Ground, Kom-Kom, Area for crime operation.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed being a member of a syndicate that has been terrorizing Oyigbo and its environs in recent times.
Items recovered from the suspect included: a pistol, quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.
The Police Image maker stated that investigation is ongoing in both cases, while the police was intensifying concerted efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
She said: “This successful operation further demonstrates the effectiveness of the Rivers State Police Command in combating kidnapping and all other forms of crime in the State.”