An Inspector of police, attached to Delta State Police Command, Andrew Eguvbehwe, and four of seven suspected kidnappers were shot dead in a squabble at Akuku Agbor, Ika South Local Council of the state.

The Guardian gathered that the policeman was killed on Sunday at about 15:41 p.m. by the suspects, who over powered police officers on their way to Asaba in a Toyota Sienna bus.

A police source said the suspects were trying to escape from the vehicle on getting to Akuku Agbor and started shouting, even attempted to disarm the policemen, who resisted them instantly, leading to shooting of four of the abductors, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

It was learnt that the seven suspected kidnappers were not handcuffed and the police was without adequate manpower to escort the notorious kidnappers, who have been terrorising the Mosogar, and Jesse axis of Ethiope West Local Council. The deceased inspector with Force service number: AP/No 199301 was attached to Jesse division as a driver.

The Command’s spokesperson, Edafe Bright, who confirmed the incident, said another suspected kidnapper was later found dead in the bush.  

MEANWHILE, the Command has foiled a robbery attempt and recovered a fabricated AK 47 rifle, 12 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 23 live cartridges, all concealed in black polythene bag and hidden beneath the rear passenger’s seat of a tricycle. 

Edafe explained that the Command in a swift response to a distress call from Hausa Market in Asaba, that some suspicious looking persons using a tricycle in the area, were robbing the people, immediately dispatched operatives of the Radio and Television (BRTV), markets and houses along the riverbanks and plains Command’s CP-Decoy Squad to the area where the hoodlums on sighting the police abandoned a de-faced tricycle and took to their heels. 

He said the police and local vigilantes have intensified effort to arrest the fleeing suspects.

^{Source: The Guardian}