Police kill 3 suspected kidnappers in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has killed three suspected kidnappers in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

In a statement yesterday by the command’s spokesman, Ahmed Mohammed, the police said the kidnappers were killed at 9:30pm on Tuesday when they attempted to abduct a resident, Richard Otu, from his home.

The police said they also arrested a member of a three-man robbery gang in Port Harcourt yesterday and recovered a vehicle and N2.350 million, among other items, from him.

Mohammed said the police rescued Otu from his assailants.

He said: “On July 6, at 9:30pm, policemen responding to a distress call, pursued and engaged suspected kidnappers, who abducted Richard Otu in his Toyata Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) when he was entering his house on the East-West Road in Port Harcourt.

“Three of the suspected kidnappers got fatally injured during the encounter; the victim and his vehicle were safely rescued.

“Items recovered from the suspects include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, five 7.62mm live ammunition, one locally made pistol and one Dane gun.

“Also, on Tuesday evening, at 4:30pm, near the Railways in Port Harcourt, the police, following a tip-off, chased a gang of suspected armed robbers and arrested one of them. The other two escaped.

“A Toyata Highlander the gang used, two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 92 rounds of 7.62 live ammunitions and N2,350,000 were recovered from them.

“Investigation continues to arrest the fleeing two.”