By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
The police in Ovwian/Aladja in Delta State have rescued two kidnapped victim’s, Ovigwe Dagagba and Obinna Nwankwo, both of Usieffurun in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State from the hands of their kidnappers.
In a statement made available to SouthernVoicenews, the police image maker in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed that at about 0200hrs on April 24, CSP Aliyu Shaba, the Divisional Police Officer attached to Ovwian/Aladja Police Division received a distress call that two persons, Ovigwe Dagagba ‘m’ 31 and Obinna Nwanko ‘m’ 29 both of Usiefurun community, were intercepted and kidnapped by a gang of four suspected kidnappers operating on a tricycle and conveyed them in a Toyota corolla car belonging to one of the victims from Usiefurun roundabout and headed towards Udu LGA.
According to him, the DPO, on receipt of the information, swiftly mobilized and led a team of police operatives, trailed and intercepted the kidnappers at the ECN junction along Agbarho/Ughelli road, and engaged them in a gun battle that forced them to abandon the car and the kidnapped victims, before escaping into the bush with various degree of bullet injuries.
The victims were rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their families.
However, upon search on the vehicle, Twenty-Six (26) pieces of assorted android phones, One cut-to-size locally made single barrel gun, Thirty-Eight (38) rounds of live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two Monie point POS machines, four power banks, two empty female hand bags were recovered. The tricycle with reg no. KPE 73 QT used by the suspected kidnappers was also recovered.
While manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing, the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of Operations, DCP Johnson Adenola, has directed officers and men of the Command to sustain the tempo in the fight against crime and criminality and also urged members of the public to report any suspicious person or movement around them.