•Another robbery/cult suspect nabbed with seven guns
A 27-year-old kidnap suspect, identified as Oghene Fejiro, was on Monday, March 6, felled by the firepower of police in Delta State Command, during a gun duel, when he was trying to escape after the kidnap of a victim.
The police spokesman in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed this on Tuesday, March 7, in a statement.
According to the PPRO, the Divisional Police Officer, Ozoro Division, CSP Ogedengbe Areguamen, got a call on March 6 at about 12:15am, informing him about the kidnap of a man (name withheld) who was taken away in his Toyota Corolla car.
The DPO, who was also told that the kidnappers were along Akiweh expressway, heading towards Ozoro town, reportedly mobilized and led a combined team of police and vigilantes from Ozoro and Akiweh communities.
According to the police spokesman, the operatives created a partial slow traffic on the road and started a stop-and-search of passing vehicles when they sighted the said Toyota Corolla car.
“In a bid to stop the vehicle, the driver made a U-turn to escape, but the team gave them a hot chase, demobilized the vehicle, which made the suspects to abandon the victim and flee into the bush while firing at the police.
“In the ensuing gun duel, one of the suspects, later identified as Oghene Fejiro, aged 27, and from Oleh, was arrested with gunshot injuries.
“A cut-to-size double barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered, while the kidnapped victim who is from Effurun was rescued unhurt and his Toyota car recovered.
“The injured suspect was taken to the general hospital but died while receiving treatment,” Edafe disclosed.
He said that investigation has commenced to arrest the other fleeing members of the syndicate.
In a related development, a suspected armed robber who is also a cultist and identified as Kingsley Vejeta, of Ekrerhavwe community, Agbarho, was arrested operatives of Agbarho Division, led by DSP Habu Haman, on February 23 at about 22:30pm.
The image-maker said that prior to the arrest, the Agbarho Division received credible information about the suspect who was said to have been terrorizing Agbarho, Ughelli and environs.
The operatives, according to him, in a combined effort with the community vigilantes, stormed his hideout and arrested the said suspect.
In the course of investigation and interrogation of the suspect, he reportedly made useful statement, and at about 2:30am, he led the Police to the hideout of his other gang members at Ekrehavwe, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
However, on sighting the police, they took to their heels while seven locally-made cut-to-size guns and four live cartridges were recovered.
The PPRO added that there is a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.
