Delta State Police Command officers on Christmas Day neutralised two confessed kidnappers.
On Christmas Eve, at around 11 p.m., the suspects were stopped by a squad of police officers from "A" Division, Warri who were conducting a surveillance patrol. They were riding a tricycle around the Okumagba Estate roundabout in Warri, the Warri South local government area.
The tricycle driven by the two suspects was searched by the police team, who found live cartridges hidden beneath the seat and took the tricycle right away to the station, according to State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Bright Edafe.
“During the search, three live cartridges concealed under the seat of the tricycle were recovered. The suspects were taken into custody. Upon interrogation, suspects confessed to be members of a five-man kidnapping syndicate operating around Warri and its environs,” he said.
Acting on their confessions, he said the police operatives led the suspects to their hideout at a house located along Upper Erejuwa Street, on Christmas day where one AK49 rifle with breach no. 11876, one locally made double barrel long gun and two machetes were recovered.
However, while on their way back to the police station, the two suspects jumped out of the moving police vehicle in an attempt to escape, but the policemen gave them a hot chase.
“In a bid to demobilise them, they were maimed by the operatives and re-arrested. The suspects gave up the ghost on while they were being taken to the hospital. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing,” he said.