The State Police Command in Edo have rescued a one-year-old baby and killed three alleged kidnappers on the Benin-Auchi Road, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.
Jennifer Iwegbu, the state PPRO, said officers received a distress call at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to her, “Police operatives on pin-down along that axis immediately mobilised and moved to the scene, where they came to an empty compound that had been vandalised and heard one Elizabeth Ojo, 42, screaming that her baby had been taken.
“She said some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers vandalised her property and whisked her baby away into a bush,” the official said.
Ms Iwegbu said the operatives moved into the bush for possible rescue of the baby.
She said the suspects, on sighting the operatives, threw the baby into the bush and opened fire on them.
“In the firefight with the police operatives, three of the six kidnappers succumbed to our superior firepower.
“The other three are still on the run while further bush combing of that area is ongoing.
“The baby was rescued unhurt and has been handed over to the mother,” she said.
She added that a double-barrel gun, a cutlass and an axe were recovered from the suspects.
According to her, the state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, while commending the operatives for the feat, urged the state residents to be more security conscious.
NAN