Edo State Police Command on Friday rescued an 11-year-old boy, Onose Umasabor, who was abducted in his parents’ bedroom on July 19, 2021, in Ososo, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state.
The Command, in a press statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, said that the rescue of the minor was carried out through its Ososo Divisional Headquarters, which received a report of the abduction around 1am on July 19.
Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Philip Aliyu Ogbadu, immediately drafted operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-crime unit of the command.
The operation, led by its Commander, SP Patrick Balogun involved pain-staking/high-tech tracking and intelligence-led techniques that uncovered the hoodlums’ hideout in the Uneme Erunu/Okpella area of Akoko Edo.
Bello stated;
Upon sighting the Operatives, the abductors engaged them in a gun duel but they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower from the police which caused them to abandon the victim unhurt.
An operational motorcycle without registration number and a Techno Android Phone was recovered after the abductors fled into the bush with various degrees of gun injuries.
The police spokesman said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing hoodlums with an investigation on course to unravel the true identity of the kidnappers.
Reacting to the success recorded, the police boss warned that Edo State can never be a safe haven for criminals and their activities.
While advising criminals to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law, he reiterated the Command’s commitment to its core mandate of protecting lives and property.
CP Ogbadu also asked all law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful business, noting that the public should use the police control room numbers on 08037646272, 08123827225, 08056776365, and 08077773721 to report in times of distress.
