The police command in Delta has killed four gang members who specialised in kidnapping.

The spokesman for the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Warri.

Mr Edafe said command operatives killed the hoodlums on Monday during a patrol on the Jesse/ Igueleba Road.

He said the armed gang members sighted the patrol vehicle from their hideout, deflated its front tyre and engaged the patrol team in a gun duel.

Mr Edafe said the state commissioner of police, Wale Abass, had deployed operatives of the special anti-kidnapping and cybercrime squad to the area.

“Consequently, on September 18, during a joint patrol on Jesse – Igueleba Road, the team encountered a gang of armed bandits who laid ambush to attack and kidnap unsuspecting motorists.

“The hoodlums fired at the front tyre of the lead pickup van, thus, demobilising the vehicle.

“They were swiftly engaged in a gun duel by the police team. The armed bandits eventually succumbed to the superior firepower of the policemen,” he said.

According to the spokesman, the police team pursued the bandits into a deep forest, where they were killed.

The police spokesman said one Ak-47 rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition, two locally-made cut-to-size guns and cartridges were recovered from them. 

(NAN)