Travellers and commuters plying the Emohua-Ahoada axis of the East-West Road, Rivers State, can now have some respite as security operatives especially, ‘Operation Sting’, the newly launched security outfit by the Rivers State government are now matching force for force with hoodlums in the area.
In the recent encounter with the bandits Tuesday, the kidnappers lost three of their men to the superior firework of the security operatives.
Five others were captured alive while their fleeing colleagues are being trailed.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni said the undesirable elements had opened fire on a 16-seater bus enroute Lagos from Port Harcourt around Rumuodogo but the driver was courageous enough to control the vehicle until help came from the security operatives.
Upon sighting the law enforcement agents, the PPRO added, the kidnappers opened fire on them but were subdued by the gallant officers who chased them to their hideout in the forests, destroying one of their operational camps.
The Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Emohua chapter, comrade Innocent Woke confirmed the incident in a telephone chat with our reporter.
In a related development, a local vigilante group in Ndele last week reportedly invaded the camp of suspected kidnappers in Egimine village of the community and killed seven of the criminals while others ran away with gunshot injuries.
A native of the community who did not want his name in print told this medium that the kidnappers had earlier burnt five houses belonging to members of the security operatives in the town.We also gathered that one “Fela,” a notorious cultist, and leader of the gang who is believed to be responsible for series of kidnapping along Ndele axis of the East/West was also killed.
