Three suspected kidnappers have been reportedly shot dead by police operatives around Agbogidi Motor Park, near Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The gunmen were killed in an attempt to abduct a United Kingdom based Nigerian who was returning to spend the festive season with his family on Thursday.
Sources told our correspondent on Friday that the suspects were shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with the crack team of the state police command which created tension in the busy Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.
It was learnt that commuters and residents took to flight following the incident as many travelers abandoned their properties to escape being caught in the gun battle between the police and the gunmen.
Findings had it that the suspects who dressed as Christian preachers came to the park in an ash color Toyota Corolla car, awaiting the arrival of the UK returnee who was their main target.
Fortunately, according to the report, policemen arrived before they could ambush their victim.
The Nigerian UK victim who is a native of Asaba was said to have returned to Nigerian to spend the Christmas celebration with members of his family.
A police source told our correspondent that a mole within the family of the UK-based Nigerian had given out information about his relative’s return to the gang, and the gang patiently waited at a bar close by to strike.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, confirmed the incident when contacted on the telephone, adding that one AK 47 rifle, one pump action gun, one locally made pistol with 19 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and one expended cartridge were recovered from the gunmen.
