The police command in Delta says it killed a suspected kidnapper and rescued a kidnap victim.

The command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Warri.

Mr Edafe said the suspect was killed by police operatives attached to the Ozoro Police Division in Isoko North local government.

He said the DPO of Ozoro division, Ogedengbe Areguamen, received a distress call on Tuesday that suspected assailants had attacked the victim’s residence.

Mr Edafe added that the suspects shot at the victim at his residence on Owhelogbo Road, Ozoro, forced him into the trunk of his car and whisked him away.

“The DPO, upon receiving the information on December 13, at about 02:00 a.m., mobilised and led police operatives/vigilantes to Owelogbo Road and other exit routes in Ozoro in a bid to rescue the kidnapped victim,” said the police officer. “Their effort paid off when they sighted a Corolla car with a registration number that matched the description given by the distress caller.”

He added, “In an attempt to intercept them, the suspects abandoned the victim in the trunk of the car, disembarked from the vehicle, and fired some shots while escaping into a nearby bush.”

The command’s spokesman added that the police operatives went after the gang and killed one of them while three others escaped.

He explained that the victim was taken to a hospital and that his vehicle and one locally made cut-to-size double-barrelled gun were recovered.

Mr Edafe said efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects were ongoing.