Benue State police command has killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested three others after a gun battle and rescued 10 kidnapped victims, including a nine-month-old baby, and a medical doctor with Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi who was taken hostage alongside his brother and driver.
The commissioner of Police, Okoro Julius Alawari disclosed that five suspects had been arrested in Otukpo local government area in connection with the murder of one Babatunde Moses.
According to him, “on 20/05/2023 at about 1345hrs information was received at Otukpo Police Division that an unknown corpse was seen at Edikwu river bank with internal organs removed and a team of detectives were deployed to the area for investigation
He said during investigation, it was revealed that the lifeless body was one Babatunde Moses aged 29 years who was last seen sitting with his friends in a burial ceremony.
“Suspects arrested in connection with the murder include; Idoko Omoru, Eze Emmanuel, Obande Emmanuel, Ameh Peter, and Sunday. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the death and removal of internal organs”
Alawari who disclosed this to newsmen at the Command headquarters in Makurdi where the suspects were paraded explained that on the 13/05/2023 at about 1900 hours, information was received that Dr. Etito Obadiah, a medical doctor with FMC Makurdi was kidnapped at Judges Quarters and his Kidnappers had started negotiation for ransom of N30 million.
According to him, during investigation, a team of “Operation Zenda JTF” trailed the Kidnappers to their hideout at Gaya Village, Utange council ward in Katsina Ala local government area and on sighting the police, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel which claimed the life of one of the kidnappers
