The Edo State Police command on Sunday said a combined team of security operatives has rescued 34 victims who were kidnapped along the Benin-Agbor Expressway on Friday.
The Deputy Police Public Relations officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, said in a statement that 32 children were among those rescued.
According to her, the operation was a collaborative effort of the Edo and Delta State Police Commands, the military and the vigilantes.
She said further that five other victims are still missing and the security operatives are embarking on aggressive search for them in the bush.
“The Edo State Police Command through its Uronigbe Divisional Headquarters, in Orhihonwon Local Government Area, Edo State on 13/08/2022 rescued 34 kidnapped victims, 32 of them were mostly children, along the Benin-Agbor expressway.
“Following credible information received from members of the public that at about 18:06hrs of 12/08/2022 hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers emerged from the bush along the Agbor/ Uronigbe/ Obiaruku Expressway and kidnapped occupants of a bus travelling from Agbor to Warri, with registration number DT513B2 conveying football players of Itugbe Kings Club, Warri Delta state and whisked them into the bush.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised his team of police operatives in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes and tactical team from Delta State Police Command at the state boundary and swung into action.
“The combined team embarked on rigorous bush combing which lasted several hours resulting in the rescue of 32 of the victims unhurt.
“While they were been profiled to ensure that all were rescued, it was discovered that five were still missing. Intense bush combing is ongoing to rescue the other five victims unhurt.”
She said that the criminals had earlier attacked the two occupants of a Toyota Corolla car which was on its way to Bayelsa, shooting the one of them on the right shoulder.
She said that the victim is being treated in the hospital.
“Earlier the hoodlums had attacked the two occupants of one Toyota Corolla car with registrationnumber EDL642DL, travelling from Bayelsa to Agbor, one of the occupants, Ibegu Daguapu ‘M’ was shot in his right shoulder. The victim is receiving treatment at the medical facility.”
he citizenry to continue to partner with the Police, as all viable and prompt information would be treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.
