Police neutralize suspected kidnapper, rescue victim, recover gun in Delta

By Sunday Onye, senior correspondent

Following the proactive measures adopted by the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass a suspected kidnapper was neutralized and the victim was rescued.

However, the CP who had always reiterated his desire to achieve a crime-free state, admonished DPOS and Tactical Commanders to key into proactive policing instead of reactive policing. He urged men of the force to carry out regular stop and search duty, visibility patrol, continuous raids of black spots, and cultivation of informants among others as parts of the working strategies of the Command.

This is according to a statement by the state police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe on Sunday.

The statement reads, “On 29th July 2023, at about 2300hours, Police patrol team attached to Ebrumede Police station while on stop and search duty flagged down a Lexuz Saloon Car (reg. number withheld) but the occupant on noticing the police, jumped down from the vehicle with a double barrel gun and took to their heels. Some of the police operatives gave them a hot chase during which one of them bearing the firearm was neutralized while others escaped.

“On a closer look at the abandoned vehicle, a kidnapped victim was seen blindfolded, he was immediately rescued by the operatives and taken to the police station where he stated that he was kidnapped along Jakpa Road, Warri on the same date at about 2100hours when the suspected kidnappers using a tricycle hit his vehicle from behind, and in an attempt to confront them, they brought out the double barrel gun and forced him into his vehicle. Before he was rescued, he had already paid the sum of seven hundred thousand naira (#700,000) ransom to their account through bank transfer. The victim has been reunited with his family while a manhunt for the other fleeing suspects is ongoing,” he added.

CP Wale Abass while applauding the gallantry of the policemen, urged other officers of the command to follow suit and exhibit courage in line with their respective duties.

He further advised members of the public to continue to trust, and partner with the police especially in the area of information gathering, noting that the Police cannot do it alone without the support of the community.