A suspected kidnapper has died after sustaining gunshot wounds in a gun battle with operatives of the Delta State Police Command.

The incident occurred in Nsukwa community after the deceased kidnapper and his gang collected N5 million ransom from a victim abducted along the Ashama Anu-Ugbo Farm Nsukwa road.

The Delta State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement signed by Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

The statement read, “On 08/12/2023, the DPO Nsukwa Division received a distress call that while a victim (name withheld) was driving home with his motorcycle along Ashama Anu-Ugbo Farm Nsukwa, he was kidnapped, and a Five Million Naira (#5,000,000) ransom was demanded by the kidnappers.

“Upon alerting the Police about the kidnapping incident, an intensified operation was conducted.

“On Saturday, 09 December 2023 at about 1210hrs, acting on credible intelligence about the arrangement of the kidnappers about the collection of the demanded ransom, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP George Omunu swiftly mobilized men of the Divisional Patrol Teams with the active support from operatives of Command’s tactical teams and other security stakeholders within the Nsukwa Area, as they proceeded on an intensive search and rescue operations.

“The suspects were traced at different locations within the Egbudu-Akah bush, where the team combed the bushes relentlessly.

“The kidnappers, upon sighting the rescue team closing up on them from a distance, opened fire on the team.

“This ferocious hostility necessitated the police to respond with a superior fire which eventually forced the captors to hastily take to their heels, leaving behind the male victim who was then rescued unhurt.

“Afterward, at about 1430hrs of the same date, following up on intelligence, the operational team proceeded back to Egbudu-Akah bush where one of the suspected kidnappers (name unknown) was apprehended with bullet wounds.

“The suspect was swiftly rushed to General Hospital Isheagu for medical attention where he died while receiving treatment.”