LAGOS SEPTEMBER 14TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Delta Police Command said it has killed three suspected kidnappers following a gun duel.
Report monitored in the Nation newspaper discloed that the gang had allegedly kidnapped one Mrs. Paaga Blessing Emabari (48) at Okuokoko in Okpe local government area of the state.
The Nation gathered that the victim escaped from her abductors before the encounter with the police.
Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said the Orerokpe Division patrol team had intercepted one Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number BWR 532 HL.
According to her, the occupants of the said Toyota car turned in a suspicious manner on sighting a patrol van.
The action aroused the suspicion of the patrol team and a hot chase ensued.
She said, “Three of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet wounds. The said vehicle was recovered to the station. Investigation is in progress while efforts to track down the fleeing criminals are on.”
Kalu also confirmed the recovery of a snatched car, a light green Toyota RAV4 Jeep with registration number LEH 550 AA which was snatched from the owner at Ovwian Aladja on September 12.
In another development was pandemonium on Sunday night at Ekuigbo, Ughelli in Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State as a result of a shootout by suspected members of two rival cult gangs leading to the death of two gang members from both sides.
Report monitored in Vanguard newspaper revealed that commercial activities were grounded as shops hurriedly locked up in fear of reprisal attacks by the cultists and wanton arrest by the police and other security agents in the town as a result of the killings.
The incident which occurred at about 9pm on Sunday night, occurred in front of Tozak Hotel, located along the Ughelli-Warri road, Ekuigbo.
It was gathered that both victims died on the spot while gang members of one of the casualties fled the scene with the remains of their colleague.
Sunday’s killing is the 4th in 5 days in what has been termed as a renewed cult war that has engulfed Ughelli and its environs leaving residence at the mercy of these cultists while the security agencies seem helpless in combating the scourge.
As at 9:34pm when Vanguard visited the scene of the incident, the remains of one of the victims in his late 20s was still in the middle of the road while members of the police from Ughelli ‘A’ Division and the local vigilante popularly referred to as Bakassi were seen within and outside the hotel premises investigating the incident.
“Victim is a wanted hit man”- BAKASSI
According to a member of the vigilante at the scene of the incident, the victim died on the spot after he was shot at close range at the back of his head with a shotgun.
He said: “This guy has been on our wanted list for awhile now. He is a hit man who has been the brain behind most of the cult related killings in Ughelli of recent.”
Meanwhile, a food vendor, who sells directly opposite the hotel where the incident occurred, gave the name of the victim as Ovigue whose dad operates a record store along Market Road, Ughelli.
She said: “We were all standing here attending to customers when suddenly we heard gunshots with two persons on the ground.
“While melee ensued, friends of one of the shot victims, carried him and fled through Ataverhe Street, while friends of the second casualty (Ovigue) absconded, leaving him in a pool of his own blood.”
Source: The Nation and Vanguard