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Police rescue 5 kidnap victims abducted from church vigil service in Ogwashi-uku

* Victims reunited with families

By John Egie

All five members of Elyon Paradise Ministry, Ogwashi-uku who were abducted by unknown gunmen during an all night vigil service have been rescued unhurt by the Police.

The successful rescue operation was carried out by combat Operatives and tactical teams, earlier deployed to the area by authorities of Delta State Police Command; specifically Operatives of the Special Anti- Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad led by its Commander, CSP Labe Joseph.

The squad in a sting operation alongside members of Ubuluku community vigilante and other concerned indigenes of Ubuluku, stormed the Ubuluku Forest where the kidnap victims were held hostage.

On sighting the combat ready Operatives the kidnappers opened fire and engaged the police Operatives in a gunfight but couldn’t withstand the superior firepower of the Police and taking to their heels, abandoned the victims.

Exhibits recovered from the scene include 13 rounds of expended cartridges, a bag containing the sum of one million, three hundred thousand naira (N1,300,00) suspected to be ransom money.

All victims have been reunited to their families.

A statement issued by the PPRO, Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright said manhunt for the fleeing suspects was ongoing.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda commends the gallantry of the Operatives and the resilience of good-spirited members of Ubuluku community vigilantes as well as indigenes including some human rights activists who took it upon themselves to follow the Police into the bush during the rescue operation.” The statement added.