Edo police rescue kidnapped man, shoot three suspects

The Nigeria Police in Edo State has rescued a kidnapped man and shot dead three suspected kidnappers in a joint operation in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

This operation took place around 2 a.m. on Sunday. It followed the kidnapping of the victim, Michael Akano, on 9 October. The police shared this information through a statement from their spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, who is an assistant superintendent of police on Facebook.

The police said the operation happened in the Geo Works bushes and forest near Otuo. This followed reliable intelligence and support from technology.

The team included police officers from Igarra Division, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, State Security Service operatives, local hunters, and members of the Edo State Security Corps.

"During the operation, three suspected members of the kidnapping gang were neutralised in a gun duel while others escaped with gunshot wounds," the statement read.

The police added that Mr. Akano was rescued without injuries and taken to a hospital for treatment.

The statement also mentioned that security forces recovered three locally made single-barrel shotguns, eight live cartridges, five empty cartridges, two cutlasses, and five mobile phones of various brands from the scene.

The bodies of the three suspected kidnappers have been taken to the General Hospital mortuary in Igarra for autopsy, according to the police.

The police indicated that a bush-combing operation is still ongoing to catch the suspects who ran away.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Patrick Daaor, praised the joint security team for their quick response and teamwork. He said the police will continue to carry out intelligence-led operations to make it hard for criminal groups to find safe places in the state.

He urged residents to share timely and reliable information with security agencies, promising that any actionable intelligence would be treated quickly.