By Okhide Em’ya David
Nine Passengers of commercial bus, who were early Sunday abducted along the Benin-Auchi Road around Igieduma/Ehor section of the Expressway, have been rescued by operatives of the Edo Police Command.
The victims were rescued through the efforts of Policemen from Ehor Division of the Edo Police Command hours the incident took place.
The kidnap victims, comprising three males and six females were abducted around 7:35am on Sunday when the 14-seater Toyota Hiace bus they were travelling in was forcefully hijacked by the arms wielding hoodlums.
The incident occurred at Igieduma village along Benin-Auchi Road when the victims were travelling from the polytechnic community of Auchi to Benin, Edo state capital.
The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police command, Superintendent of Police, Kontongs Bello, confirmed the release of the victims.
Bello said the hoodlums were forced to abandon their captives following urgent rescue efforts by a special team from Ehor Police Station who combed the neighboring bushes for the kidnappers.
According to him, the gunmen who have already moved the victims into Igieduma forest reserve had no option but to release them owing to the superior power of the police operatives.
His words: “On the 4/7/2021 at about 0735hrs, acting on credible information from members of the public that a 14 Seater Toyota Hiace bus white in colour with Reg. No. XA 525 KRF driven by one Karimu Momoh ‘m’ age 40yrs belonging to a private company heading from Auchi to Benin was intercepted by a group of hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers at Igieduma village along Benin-Auchi Road.
“On receipt of the information, the DPO Ehor Division, CSP BENAFA BENJAMIN immediately swung into action, mobilized his team and other sister Agencies as well as Members of Local Vigilance Group for immediate bush combing and moved into Igieduma forest Reserve.
“The suspected kidnappers on sighting the Police and other team members opened fire. The superior fire power from the team of police operatives made the suspected kidnappers to abandon the victims and escaped with bullet wounds into the thick forest.
“Meanwhile, nine (9) kidnapped victims, (3) males, six (6) females were rescued unhurt. Bush combing still on going for possible arrest of the hoodlums/suspected kidnappers.”
The Edo Police Commissioner, according to the statement, appealed to communities lying along the stretch of Benin-Auchi Road to collaborate with the state command in its renewed efforts to fight criminality in the state.
The Commissioner of police added that the Command will not relent in its effort in combating crime and criminality in Edo state.
