It was learnt that the victims were abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers while travelling from Agbor to Warri.
No fewer than 33 kidnapped victims mostly footballers of Itugbe Kings Football Club, Warri in Delta State, have been rescued in Edo State.
It was learnt that the victims were abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers while travelling from Agbor to Warri.
The Edo State Police Command spokesperson, Jennifer Iwegbu, said the command through its Uronigbe Divisional Headquarters, in Orhihonwon Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, August 13, 2022, rescued the 33 kidnapped victims.
In a statement released on Sunday, Iwegbu said the rescue operation was carried out in conjunction with Delta State Police Command, military and vigilantes.
The statement said, “The Edo State Police Command through its Uhronigbe Divisional Headquarters, in Orhionmwon Local Council, on August 13, rescued 33 kidnapped victims, 32 of them were mostly children, along the Benin-Agbor Expressway.
“Following credible information received from members of the public on August 12, that at about 18:06hrs, hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers emerged from the bush along the Agbor/ Urhonigbe/ Obiaruku Expressway and kidnapped occupants of a bus travelling from Agbor to Warri, with registration number DT513B2, conveying football players of Itugbe Kings Club, Warri, Delta State and whisked them into the bush.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, immediately, mobilised his team in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes and tactical team from Delta State Police Command at the state boundary and swung into action.
“The combined team embarked on rigorous bush combing which lasted for several hours resulting in the rescue of 32 of the victims unhurt. While they were being profiled to ensure that all were rescued, it was discovered that five were still missing. Intense bush combing is ongoing to rescue the other five victims unhurt.”
“Earlier the hoodlums had attacked two occupants of one Toyota Corolla car marked: EDL642DL, travelling from Bayelsa to Agbor, one of the occupants, Ibegu Daguapu, ‘m’, was shot in his right shoulder. The victim is receiving treatment at a medical facility.”