By Wilson Adekumola
The operatives of the Ricers State Police Command have killed two suspected kidnappers in a gun duel on Friday.
A statement by the the command’s spokesman, SP Grace Inringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the operation was acted on intelligence reports made available to the command.
It was learnt that the incident occurred when the police officers stormed the kidnappers’ den at Oyigbo/Igbo-Etche Forest.
While explaining that the deceased suspects were badly injured during the gun battle and were confirmed dead at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, the PPRO disclosed that the operatives recovered one AK47 and 18 Live Ammunition during the operation that lasted for more than one hour.
The statement reads, “The Operatives were acting on actionable intelligence gathered on the kidnapping gang. Upon sighting the Police team the hoodlums opened fire on them.
“During the gun duel that lasted about an hour, the gang leader, who was later identified as Aka Blacky, was fatally wounded.
“Another suspect identified as Peter Nwafor ‘m’ was shot while trying to escape.
“The two suspects were taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“Their corpses have been deposited at the UPTH Mortuary.
“The gang was linked to the kidnap of a woman and her daughter on 18th March 2023 along Garrison, Port Harcourt. It would be recalled that two members of the gang had earlier been arrested. Exhibits recovered at the scene include 1 AK47 Rifle and 18 Live Ammunition”.
