Edo Police Say Joint Operation Rescued Kidnapped Man

A joint security operation in Edo State rescued a kidnapped man and left three suspected kidnappers dead after a gun battle, according to the Edo State Police Command. Police said the operation took place at about 2 a.m. on October 11 in the Geo Works forest area near Otuo, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said the man, identified by the command as Michael Akano, had been abducted on October 9. The operation followed a tip from farmers and intelligence support, she said. Police reported that the rescued man was unharmed and taken to hospital for medical evaluation. The joint team included police from Igarra Division, personnel of the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, State Security Service operatives, local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps. Police said three suspected members of the kidnapping group were killed in a gun duel, while others escaped with gunshot wounds. A search of the area to find the fleeing suspects was underway, according to the command.