Police in the Edo State, in collaboration with the vigilantes, have rescued 11 kidnap victims in the state, including an army officer identified as Chimbi Auta.

The victims, it was gathered, were kidnapped on March 25, 2022, by gunmen at Ute community in Uhunwonde Local Government Area of Edo State while travelling from Ogoja, Cross River State to Lagos State.

It was also learnt that the hoodlums stabbed the soldier among the victims severally after discovering he is a military officer.

The spokesperson of the Police Command in the state, Kontongs Bello, said “the police received information that a Young Shall Grow bus travelling from Ogoja in Cross River State to Lagos State with 11 passengers was forced to a halt, kidnapped and whisked the occupants of the vehicle into the bush.

“On getting the information, the police in conjunction with local vigilante mobilised for bush combing around Ute Community in Uhunwonde Local Government where the suspects were whisked to,” he said.

Bello said the suspected kidnappers, who had already tied their victims in the forest, engaged the security personnel in a gun battle immediately they were sighted.

He said the suspected kidnappers abandoned their victims and fled into the forest.

“One of the victims, who is a soldier and was recognised by the kidnappers as military personnel, was stabbed all over his body and also collected his uniform that was seen in his bag,” he said.

While reinstating the command’s commitments to a crime-free state, he urged the public to continue to support the police with credible information that will lead to the arrest of criminals and their cohorts.(Daily Trust)