The leader of a suspected kidnap gang, David Momotimi and three others have been reported dead. They died during a fierce gun battle between the Police and other members of their criminal gang who came to rescue them from the hands of the Police.
The suspects died at the general hospital in Kwale in Delta State.
The Divisional Police, Ekpan Division, CSP Aliyu Shaba and operatives of the Rivers State Police Command’s Rapid Response Team, RRT, had arrested the thirty-two-year-old suspected kidnapper, David Momotimi and three other members of his criminal gang during a raid of their criminal hideout in Rivers State.
Among the criminal gang is a POS operator who provides the gang with information about potential kidnap victims.
The Police at first recovered from the suspects, one ash-coloured Toyota Camry car (REG NO. LAGOS LND 508 GM), and three MONIEPOINT POS machines.
The Delta State Police Command led by CP Wale Abass confirmed the report in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe.
The Police Image maker said, “The CP directed the suspects to be transferred to the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKCCS) for further investigation.
He said, “On 27/9/2023, at about 1842hours, the suspect led operatives of SAKCCS to their hideout in Warri, but on their way, the operatives were ambushed by hoodlums suspected to be members of the gang in a bid to rescue the arrested suspects, engaged them in a fierce gun duel which the police responded, in the ensuing gun duel, the operatives successfully subdued and repelled the attackers, two police officers sustained gunshot injuries, however, the four suspects in a bid to escape ran into the crossfire and sustained serious gunshot injuries.”
According to DSP Edafe, “They were taken to the general hospital in Kwale where they were certified dead by the doctor on duty.
“When the area was combed, a corpse suspected to be one of the attackers was recovered. Two defaced AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and (47) forty-seven empty shells of 7.62mm ammunition were also recovered.”
