Omiete Joseph
Rivers State Police command said it has rescued a victim kidnapped along Egbu Street, in Oyigbo town, Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State.
The spokesperson of the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko who disclosed this yesterday, to journalists in Port Harcourt, said the victim, Madabuchi Julius was abducted by a gang of four men at a filling station in the area
She said the suspects dropped the victim during a hot chase by operatives of the command who also recovered the operational vehicle used by the kidnappers to commit the crime.
According to Iringe-Koko “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 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 and a gun duel ensued between the Police Operatives and the hoodlums.”
He said “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. The victim was rescued unhurt and the vehicle recovered.”
Iringe-Koko revealed they investigation is ongoing while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover their operational weapons.
Similarly, development, operatives of the command have arrested a 25 year old, Gabriel Morris, allegedly terrorising the Oyigbo area.
The police spokesperson disclosed that “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, of Mercy Ground, Kom-Kom, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State.”
She said during interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed being a member of a syndicate that has been terrorising Oyigbo and its environs in recent times, adding that one Locally made Pistol and quantity of weeds suspected to be indian hemp were recovered from the suspect.
Iringe-Koko added that “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”.