Police rescue kidnap victim, apprehend suspect

The Police Command in Rivers State says it has rescued a kidnapped woman and apprehended a suspect during a raid on a kidnapper’s camp in the state.

Blessing Agabe, the police spokesperson in Rivers, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a resident of Rivers, simply identified as Loveth, was abducted on 2 September while seated in front of her shop in Port Harcourt.

Ms Agabe, an assistant superintendent of police, said that armed men reportedly fired shots into the air, forcefully abducted Loveth, and took her away in a vehicle.

She said that following the incident, operatives of the Eleme Police Division commenced intelligence-led operations to track down the suspected kidnappers.

“The operation led police operatives to the criminal hideout where officers engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun battle.

“Operatives overpowered the suspected kidnappers and successfully rescued Loveth,” she said.

Ms Agabe said a suspected member of the gang, aged 35, was apprehended during the operation.

She further said that during the operation, police recovered a silver-coloured minibus with registration number RBC 992 XE, and two locally made pistols.

According to her, live ammunition, a mobile phone, two identity cards, two black gowns and a vehicle number plate marked KRK 528 HG were also recovered during the operation.

The spokesperson said the command had intensified intelligence gathering and surveillance operations to identify and apprehend other members of the gang.

Ms Agabe said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s determination to protect lives and property, and bring criminals to justice.

She warned criminals that the state was no haven for them.

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“The command will continue to deploy all lawful and available resources to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes,” she said.

According to the statement, the police commissioner advised residents to be more vigilant due to a possible rise in crime as the year ends.

He also encouraged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to help the police combat crime in the state.