Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested three others after a gun duel in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, said one AK-47 rifle, 18 rounds of 7.6 ammunition, one double barrel locally made gun and a suspected stolen car were recovered during the operation.

According to the PPRO, the suspects were members of a gang that kidnapped and killed one Godspower Emmanuel after collecting N400, 000 ransom from his family.

“Following reports of kidnapping and armed robbery operations in Ughelli, Warri and environs, the Deputy Commissioner of Police operations, DCP Johnson Adenola mandated all divisional police officers in the Command to gather intelligence and ensure that this ugly trend is nipped in the bud,” the statement read.

"In compliance with this directive, on 30/04/2023 at about 1300hrs, acting on information received via intelligence gathered on an armed robbery gang that snatched one AK47 rifle from a police officer and also allegedly kidnapped and murdered one Godspower Emmanuel 'm' after collecting four hundred thousand naira (#400,000) ransom were sited at an hotel in Agbarho, the DPO Ovwian Aladja division, CSP Aliyu Shaba mobilized and led detectives to the area in search of them.

"While the search was ongoing, the suspects sighted the policemen from hiding and opened fire, which the police equally responded. During the gun duel, one Felix A.K.A “OBJ” was shot and later confirmed dead at the hospital, while three other suspects namely Stephen Precious 'm' 19yrs old, Godstime Sunday 'm' 28yrs old, and Apene Prince 'm' 28yrs old, were arrested with various degrees of bullet injuries.

“One AK 47 rilfe with breech no. 19617, eighteen (18) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one English double barrel gun, eleven (11) Android phones, two botton phones, one long knife, one suspected stolen white coloured GLK Mercedes Benz with reg. no YAB 733 BK, two bottles of codeine, two wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”