Operatives of the Edo State Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilante on Saturday, rescued five people allegedly kidnapped by gunmen on the Benin-Lagos bypass road.
The police also arrested two of the suspected kidnappers.
It was gathered that the suspects accosted a vehicle conveying corpse from Lagos to Imo State around Ute river on the Benin-Lagos bypass on Friday and kidnapped three occupants of the vehicle.
It was learnt that the police and the vigilantes mobilised for immediate combing of the bush and in the process rescued the victims and arrested two of the suspects.
The command’s spokesperson, Bello Kongtons, confirmed the incident.
He said the police in collaboration with local vigilantes arrested the suspects.
“The suspects, on sighting the police and vigilante, engaged them in a gun duel but due to the superior firepower of the Police, the suspected kidnappers abandoned the victims and escaped.
“But two of them, Mohammed Ishaku 25 and Mubarak Wada 26 were arrested while the others escaped with bullet wounds.
He said the three victims and two others earlier kidnapped were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical attention.
He said three locally made guns, two live cartridges, two cutlasses and some charms were also recovered from the suspects.
