The Edo State Police Command has rescued three kidnap victims and recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 22 rounds of live ammunition.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, confirmed this in a statement on Monday.
He said the victims were abducted on January 29 while traveling in a Toyota Sienna from Abuja to Onitsha along the Okhuesan-Ewohimi road.
“Following the kidnap of some travellers on board a Toyota Sienna from Abuja heading to Onitsha in Anambra State which occurred along Okhuesan-Ewohimi road, on 29/01/2025 at about 1840hrs, operatives of Ubiaja Divisional Headquarters in a joint operation with other tactical teams immediately went on the trail of the kidnappers,” Yamu said.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, ordered the deployment of more officers to rescue the victims and arrest the kidnappers.
“The team, acting on intelligence today at about 1530hrs, mobilised to the bushes around Ugbebor, in partnership with local hunters and vigilantes. This effort paid off, as the kidnappers abandoned their victims and fled when they sensed that the operatives were closing in on them,” the statement added.
The rescued victims were identified as ASP Elisha Jeremiah, attached to FCID Abuja, Oyedele Ebenezer of Ogbidi Road Uromi, and Useni Malam Inusa. They are receiving medical treatment and will soon reunite with their families.
In a related development, the police recovered an AK-47 rifle with breach number 1972P09108 in the Okhuesan forest.
“On 03/02/2025 at about 1730hrs after the rescue of three kidnapped victims, operatives of the Edo Command continued with a manhunt for the suspects, which led to the recovery of the AK-47 rifle along Okhuesan-Ewohimi road,” the police said.
The command assured residents that efforts are ongoing to arrest the kidnappers and prevent further criminal activities in the state.
