The police command in Delta says it killed two kidnap suspects and rescued a victim from the kidnappers.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said the command seized assorted weapons and a stolen vehicle from the suspects.

Mr Edafe said police officers killed the suspects on Saturday in a gun duel with police operatives attached to the Ekpan division in Uvwie LGA.

He said the divisional police officer of the Ekpan division, CSP Aliyu Shaba, acting on intelligence, led a surveillance team of the division on the trail of the hoodlums.

“On December 30, 2023, a 23-year-old male parked his GLK 350 Benz SUV on Jakpa Road, leaving his brother inside the vehicle to attend to some issues.

“While there, he was alerted that the vehicle was attacked by three armed men and drove off to an unknown destination with his brother inside.

“Upon receipt of this information, the commissioner of police, Delta command, Wale Abass, directed Shaba to mobilise operatives and ensure that the victim was rescued and the suspects arrested,” stated Mr Edafe.

Mr Edafe said the DPO, in compliance with the police commissioner’s directive, led a surveillance team attached to Ekpan division for the operation.

“The kidnappers, upon sighting the police operatives, engaged then in a gun duel, and in the process, two of the hoodlums were fatally injured, while one of them escaped with gunshot injuries,” he said.

Mr Edafe said that the kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt, adding that a single-barrel and one double-barrel gun with two expended cartridges and the stolen vehicle were recovered.

He said the two injured suspects were taken to the hospital, where they were certified dead by the doctor on duty.

The police spokesman said efforts were ongoing to arrest the injured suspect who escaped during the gun duel.

(NAN)