Men of the underworld had it hot on Wednesday after the police in Edo State killed three kidnappers who who snatched a 13 month old baby from a 42 year old mother, Elizabeth Ojo.
The three kidnappers killed are believed by police to be part of a six man gang that the men of the law have been on their trail.
The deputy spokesperson of the Command, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, disclosed this in a statement released to the press on Wednesday.
According to the statement, an alarm was raised by distraught residents of Agor-Igbo Community along Benin-Auchi road, in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State at about 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 13 September, 2022.
“The Police Operatives on pin-down along that axis immediately mobilized and moved to the scene, where they came to an empty compound that had been vandalized and one Elizabeth Ojo ‘F’ 42yrs, screaming that her baby had been taken.
“On enquiry, she said some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers vandalized her property and whisked her baby of 1yr 1month away into the bush.
“The Operatives immediately moved into the bush, for possible rescue of the baby. The kidnappers on sighting the Operatives threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on them.
“In the firefight with the Police operatives, [three] of the [six] kidnappers succumbed to our superior firepower. The other three are still on the run while further bush combing of that general area is still ongoing.
“The baby was rescued unhurt and has been handed over to the mother,” the statement stated.
Items were recovered at the scene include one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one cutlass and one battle axe.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, has commended the operatives for their timely intervention.
He also urged the good people of the State to be more security-conscious and vigilant, as the year is coming to a close.
Yaro further reassured the general populace that the command would continue to handle every complaint with expedient actions.