The Police Command in Edo State Sunday, said its operatives have killed five suspected kidnappers during a gun battle.
Police Public Relations Officer, Bello Kontongs, in a statement on Sunday, said the incident happened in Ovia North-East Local Government of the state when the suspected kidnappers attempted to abduct an expatriate working with Okumo Oil Palm Plantation.
According to Bello, the police received information that notorious kidnappers had perfected plans to abduct an expatriate in Okomu Oil Plantation, adding that the police immediately mobilized to the location, and that the suspected kidnappers on sighting the team of operatives opened fire on them.
He said during encounter, the operatives neutralised five of the suspected kidnappers while others escaped with gunshot injuries,” the PPRO said.
He said the operatives are currently combing bush in order to track other fleeing gang members for possible arrest
According to him, items recovered from the kidnappers include AK 47, One single barrel cut to size gun, one long barrel gun and eight live cartridges.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, while thanking the public for prompt information which eventually led to the neutralising of the criminal elements, reinstated his commitment to the protection of residents of Edo State.