Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
A combined team of security operatives have shot dead two suspected kidnappers at the bank of Ogba river, near Benin City.
The suspects were allegedly involved in the abduction of two women who were at a project site in Obazagbon in Ikpoba Okha local government area.
The police said the victims were rescued unhurt.
Two sisters whose names are not mentioned for security reasons were abducted on 21 March 2023 during the supervision of their house project in the community.
They were approached by four gunmen who shot sporadically into the air, abducted the two sisters and forced them through a bush path to a riverside before escaping in a standby boat.
The Truth Live News learnt that the victim spent three hours travelling before they arrived at the kidnappers’ den.
The kidnappers then demanded N50 million from their families, later changing the currency to dollars and demanding the money must be dropped in cash.
Truth Live News further gathered that the family raised $6000 (N4.4m) and appealed to the kidnappers, who accepted the money.
The police were informed, and an investigation was launched.
At the ransom site, the police ambushed and engaged the suspects in a gun duel at the bank of Ogba river, near Benin City.
The police said two of the suspects were killed, and others escaped.
One of the deceased suspects was identified as D Roy.
The rescued sisters commended the security team for taking the risk to save them, as they had previously threatened to kill them even after the ransom was collected.
One of the kidnapped victim said, ” I was in the company of some persons when four men with guns just came to the site and asked us not to move.
“One of them said to carry that one with a yellow shirt. That was me. They ordered my sister and I to follow them.
” They took us through the bush for over three hours until we got to where they kept their boat, where we started another journey into the river.
“For three days, we did not eat food. They kept threatening us with death.
” I was surprised how the security team got to our location and finally rescued us. I thank them . We almost saw death”.
Officers were tipped that the kidnappers’ hideout belonged to a man identified as Osakpamwan.
The police returned to the kidnappers’ hideout and burnt down the houses in the camp.
Some harmful items were recovered during the operation.
Edo state Police Public Relations Officer SP Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident and said the police will ensure the arrest of other suspects now at large.
“I can assure you that we have stepped up heavy investigation to locate those suspects now running. They will surely be caught and made to face the law”.