POLICE RESCUE 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM KIDNAPPERS IN RIVERS, GUN DOWN SUSPECTED KINGPIN
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued a 13-year-old girl who was abducted while running an errand for her mother in the Umuebule community of Etche Local Government Area. The victim was safely recovered from a hideout in a forest at Umuechem, and one of the suspected kidnappers was fatally shot during a gun battle with police.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the command, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, said the girl was abducted on June 5, 2025. Shortly after her disappearance, her family received a phone call from the kidnappers demanding a N2 million ransom and threatening to kill the girl if their demands were not met.
Following the report, officers from the C4i Intelligence Unit swiftly launched an investigation. On June 7, they arrested a 24-year-old woman in Igbo-Etche, suspected to be the user of the SIM card used to contact the victim’s family. Although the woman claimed her phone had been stolen on the day of the abduction, further investigations led to the arrest of the principal suspect, 36-year-old Chizoba Andrew Obi.
The girl was rescued unhurt from a fenced forest hideout, and a locally made pistol with live cartridges was recovered. According to Iringe-Koko, Obi confessed to being part of a four-man kidnapping gang. While leading police to the location of their weapons, other gang members ambushed the officers, opening fire and triggering a gun duel.
Obi attempted to flee during the exchange but was struck by police bullets. He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. His body has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.
The rescued girl has since been reunited with her family after undergoing debriefing. Meanwhile, police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining gang members and recover additional weapons.
Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their swift response and bravery. He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting residents and ensuring that all perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice.
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