Two kidnappers killed as police rescue woman in Ughelli

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have rescued a trader, Mrs Akpezi Okpidi, who was abducted by gunmen, who waylaid her car at the Otovwodo junction in Ughelli on Saturday.

It was gathered that the 33-year-old woman was rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout in the riverside area of the Burutu Local Government Area of the state by the police following surveillance.

A family source, who confirmed the trader’s release to journalists, disclosed that the victim regained her freedom around 7pm on Saturday.

Okpidi was abducted while driving her Honda car to her shop in Otovwodo in the Ughelli Township Stadium area of the town. The gunmen were in a Mercedes Benz GLK with which they whisked the woman to an unknown destination.

A source disclosed that security operatives tracked two of the suspects to Bayelsa State, where they were apprehended.

However, the suspects were said to have died later from gunshot wounds sustained when detectives raided their hideouts. Another source explained, “A third suspect is reportedly on the run. He escaped with the victim but later abandoned her, when he realised that the Police were closing in on him.

“The Benz GLK used for the operation was stolen by the suspects and has also been recovered by the police team.”

TopNaija.ng gathered that no ransom was paid before the police rescued the woman. When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the development in a text message sent to our correspondent.