by Oge Okonkwo

A kidnapping ring has successfully been busted by officers of the Edo State Police command, in the state capital Benin, killing two of the suspected abductors during a shoot out.

The police also arrested six of the suspected kidnappers, recovering arms including three pump action guns from the bandits.

According to sources, the incident occurred around the university town of Ugbowo after a 70-year-old man who was said to have gone out to jog was abducted by the suspects.

Nigerian Eye reports that The victim it was learnt was forced inside the boot of an Audi car and driven off to the kidnappers’ hideout where they met their waterloo, as the police came after them.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, while confirming the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said it happened around at 6am, saying men from the command went to rescue the 70-year old, following a tip off on location of the kidnappers’ hideout.

He said, “Early this morning at about 6am, hoodlums came with an Audi vehicle and abducted this 70 years old man around Ugbowo. They put in him in the boot of the Audi and drove off.

“Information got to me, so I quickly directed our anti-kidnapping team to carry out a raid in that area. Our vehicle was parked far away from the hideout, so we trekked to the scene.

“One of them must have observed that it could be policemen, and shouted. So they started firing at us and we responded. Two of them were shot dead while six were arrested. None of our men sustained any injury and we thank God for that.”

“We observed that the old man was tortured when they were forcing him to inform them where to get ransom from. Like I said earlier, we will continue to go after them,” added the CP