By USMAN ALIYU

The Police Command in Edo has confirmed the death of a 12-year-old girl during a gunfire exchange between security operatives and fleeing kidnappers along the Fugar-Agenebode road in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

The command?s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

According to Yamu, the tragic incident occurred on Friday evening when armed men, suspected to be kidnappers, ambushed commuters and blocked the busy highway at about 7:20 p.m.

He said two persons were killed on the spot by the attackers, while several others were abducted and taken into the forest.

Responding to a distress call, operatives of the police from Agenebode, in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, launched a swift rescue operation.

During the operation, a gun duel ensued between the kidnappers and the rescue team at Obe Hill, near the pipeline route leading to Ajaokuta, resulting in the fatal shooting of the young girl.

?During the encounter, a gun duel ensued along Obe Hill by pipeline leading to Ajaokuta, the security team successfully rescued 14 kidnapped passengers alive.

?Unfortunately, a 12-year-old girl was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers during the crossfire.

?One female victim is still unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing to ensure her safe rescue,? he added.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika, as commending the bravery of the joint security operatives.

The commissioner reassured the public of the command?s commitment to restoring peace and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

?The command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the general public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice is served,? he said. (NAN)

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