Rivers State Police Command, on Sunday, rescued a victim of a four-man kidnapping gang and recovered a black colour Toyota Corolla car from the gang.
The police reported that the victim, one Madabuchi Julius (male), was said to have been kidnapped at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, stated this in a press release, dated 20 November, 2024.
According to the PPRO, operatives of the River Police Command, acting upon a distress call from the Command’s Control Room, at about 8:23pm, engaged the kidnapping gang in a gun duel.
The four kidnappers, she said, succumbed to the superior fire power of the police and fled the scene, abandoning their operational car, along with their victim.
“On the 17th of November, 2014, at about 2023hrs, operatives of the Command received a distress call from the Command’s Control Room indicating that a gang of armed men numbering about four, operating in a Black colour Toyota Corolla car, shot sporadically and kidnapped one Madabuchi Julius ‘m’ at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.
“Operatives were swiftly mobilised to the scene and the hoodlums, on sighting the police operatives, drove off.
“But they were given a hot chase by the operatives and subsequently intercepted along Egbu Street, Oyigbo and a gun duel ensued between the police operatives and the hoodlums.
“The hoodlums could not withstand the police superior fire power and eventually abandoned the victim and their operational vehicle with registration number Rivers PHC 938 AH and escaped,” she stated.
The Rivers Police image-maker added that the victim was rescued unhurt and the vehicle recovered.
She stated that investigation is ongoing while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang and recover their operational weapons.
In a related development, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command arrested one Gabriel Morris, aged 25, who is a suspected member of syndicate that has been terrorising Oyigbo and its environs in recent times.
Rivers Police PPRO, SP Grace Iringe-Koko stated this in the release, adding that the suspect was arrested in a coordinated covert operation at St Lorinta Street, Oyigbo.
“On the 18th of November, 2024 at about 2248hrs, operatives of the Command acted on a credible piece of information, coordinated a covert operation at St Lorinta Street, Oyigbo, arrested one Gabriel Morris, aged 25yrs, ‘m’ of Mercy Ground, Kom-Kom, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed being a member of a syndicate that has been terrorising Oyigbo and its environs in recent times.
“Items recovered from the suspect included one locally-made pistol and some quantity of weeds, suspected to be Indian Hemp.
“Investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
“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,” SP Iringe-Koko, stated in the release.
