Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Police in  Edo State yesterday  said  they  rescued 34 kidnapped victims who were abducted along the Benin-Agbor Expressway on Friday.

In a statement by the Command’s Deputy Police Public Relations officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, said the rescue operation which had 32 children among the rescued victims, was carried out in conjunction with the Delta State Police Command, the military and the local vigilance groups within the axis

The statement read:s “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.”

According to that statement, the rescue mission was made possible 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 for several hours resulting  in the rescue of 32 of the victims unhurt. While they were being 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

“Earlier the hoodlums had attacked the two occupants of one Toyota Corolla car with registration number 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,” the statement said.

It added that the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro assured all good people of Edo State that the command under his watch would not relent on its responsibility of protecting life and Property.

He  thanked the public for always providing the police with prompt and credible information, while urging the citizenry to continue to partner with the Police, as all viable and prompt information would be treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.