The Edo State Police Command has neutralised a suspected gang of kidnappers in Benin City, Edo State, while rescuing the victim.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Moses Yamu, said the incident occurred on Sept.

15 when operatives from the Ugbowo Division, responded to a distress call from one Valentine Igbinevbo. Iyamo said Igbinevbo reported at the division that his silver-coloured Mercedes Benz C350 car had been snatched at gunpoint and his friend, Iyobo Ighodaro, abducted.

He said the Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Emmanuel, swiftly mobilised and led a surveillance team to track the suspects to their hideout in Egor, on the outskirts of Benin.

At the hideout, he said the suspects were negotiating for ransom using the victim’s phone. “On sighting the police, a gun battle ensued where one male suspect, whose identity is yet to be known sustained fatal gunshot injuries and was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead, while his second is believed to have narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.

“The operatives recovered the said vehicle, one cut to size gun, one live cartridge, a cutlass and three phones of different make.