The Edo police command said it neutralised a suspected kidnapper during a bush raid to rescue a victim. The command also arrested three suspected cultists in another operation.

Police spokeswoman Jennifer Iwegbu said the crime-busting successes were outcomes of police’ sustained efforts to stem the tide of heinous crimes and criminality in the state.

She said a kidnap victim, Austine Adoghe, was rescued unhurt and taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

“Following a kidnapping incident by some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along the Uluoke axis, operatives of the command swung into action, mobilised in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters,” Ms Iwegbu said in a statement on Thursday.

“They embarked on rigorous bush combing for possible rescue of the victim and arrest of the suspects.”

The suspected kidnappers were eventually trailed to their hideout on Thursday and on sighting the police, opened fire on them, which led to a gun duel.

“The superior firepower of the operatives made the hoodlums abandon their victim and escaped into the forest with various degrees of gunshot injuries, although one of the hoodlums was neutralised in the process,” the spokeswoman said.

Items recovered, according to Ms Iwegbu, are one locally made cut-to-size gun and two live cartridges.

In another related development, the police said they arrested three suspected cultists along Four junction, Evbuotubu in Benin.

The suspects, the spokesperson for the police in the state, said were arrested while attacking two persons in the area.

The suspects were Friday Ediare, Odion Otoghile and Otamere Oghogbe.

“The trio confessed to being members of the dreaded Eiye confraternity who were out looking for members to initiate into their dreaded cult group.

“Investigation is ongoing with the aim of arresting other members,” she said. 

(NAN)