A suspected member of a kidnapping gang in Warri area of Delta State, Oghenetega Ovwa, who was arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command has died from a gunshot as his gang members engaged the policemen who were trying to rescue their victim during a heavy gun duel in their hideout.
The kidnap victim (name withheld) who was rescued after other members of the gang escaped during the gun battle with the team of policemen was kidnapped at Ugborikoko on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
The spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement said, “… the kidnappers were heading toward Agbarho with the victim’s car. The DPO Agbarho Division deployed operatives to the Warri-Ughelli expressway to carry out intensive stop and search with a view to rescuing the victim and arrest of the suspects. While the Police were carrying out this task painstakingly, they intercepted a Mercedez GLK SUV (registration number withheld) that matches the description of the victim’s vehicle.
“The suspect Oghenetega Ovwa ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Ugborikoko, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested and upon searching the vehicle, one pump action gun with six (6) rounds of cartridges were recovered. During the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang that earlier kidnapped the owner of the GLK.
“He led the team to their hideout at Ugborikoko in Warri South LGA, on arrival at the hideout, his gang members engaged the Police in a gun duel, the suspect was hit during the heavy gun duel, while other members of the gang escaped. The victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with his family. The suspect, who sustained serious gunshot injuries during the gun duel, was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.”
