BY IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Security operatives comprising men of police, Nigerian Army and vigilantees on Wednesday shot three kidnappers dead along the Benin/Ekpoma road, in Edo State.
The incident occurred at Okuo, along Benin /Ekpoma road in Uhunmwode local government area of the State.
The rampaging kidnappers had reportedly taken over the ever busy highway on Tuesday morning, but were driven into the forest by security operatives who engaged them in a gun battle.
Travellers plying the road were held hostage for several hours while the security operatives engaged the hoodlums.
It was gathered that an unidentified young man who was driving a Lexus SUV was hit by stray bullet on his shoulder.
The undeterred gunmen however appeared on the highway on wednesday morning, laying ambush for travellers plying the road.
A combined security operatives again came to the rescue of the motorists, as they engaged the hoodlums.
The hoodlums however succumbed to the superior power of the security men who neutralized three of them, while others escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries.
The State Police Command Spokesman, SP Kontongs Bello, has confirmed the incident to our Correspondent in a phone interview.
“It’s true sir, it happened yesterday [Tuesday] at 0620hrs, Okhuo near Ehor area, but the combined team of the police and the military foiled the attempt, nobody was killed or kidnapped, one person, a young man driving Lexus 350 was hit in his car in his shoulder.
“Meanwhile today (Wednesday), the hoodlums came out again and three of them were gun down by the combined team of the police, military and vigilantee. Edo must be safe,” Bello said.