Police rescue kidnapped medical doctor, nine others in Benue
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Commissioner of Police Benue State Command, CP Okoro Alawari has disclosed that the command under his watch have rescued unhurt a kidnapped Medical Doctor with Federal Medical Center, Dr. Etito Obadiah and nine others by unknown gunmen leaving one of the kidnappers dead and 3 arrested.
CP Okoro, made this known to journalists during a maiden press briefing and parade of suspects at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi.
According to the police commissioner, on 13/05/2023 at about 1900 hours, the command received information that Dr. Etito Obadiah, a medical doctor with Federal Medical Center, Makurdi was kidnapped at Judges Quarters and his kidnappers had started negotiation for ransom and during investigation, a team of Operation Zenda JTF trailed the kidnappers to their hideout at Gaya Village, Utange council ward in Kastina Ala Local Government Area of Benue state.
On sighting the Police, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel that claimed the life of one (1) of the kidnappers; three (3) suspects were arrested while others escaped into a nearby bush with bullets wounds and ten (10) kidnap victims including the doctor were rescued unhurt.
The CP disclosed items recovered from them to include; one (1) locally fabricated AK47 rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two single barrel riffles, one locally made barrette pistol loaded with three (3) rounds of .9mm live ammunition and two military uniforms. Investigation is ongoing.
The Commissioner also revealed some of the results oriented operations carried out by the command as follows, “On 21/5/2023 at about 1200hrs, while Police teams were on patrol along Makurdi-Lafia road, information was received that some gun men had accosted a vehicle conveying passengers to Enugu at Daudu with intent to move these passengers to an unknown destination and request for ransom.
“The Police swiftly moved to the scene and on sighting the Police, suspects abandoned their victims and took to their heels and abandoned a bag containing military camouflage uniforms and wooden guns
“Victims have since been released to continue with their journey while investigation is ongoing to arrest suspects at large.
“Another development, on the 20/05/2023 at about 1345hrs information was received at Otukpo Police Division that an unknown corpse was seen at Edikwu river bank with internal organs removed.
“A team of detectives were deployed to the area for investigation, and during investigation, it was revealed that the lifeless body was one Babatunde Moses aged 29years who was last seen sitting with his friends in a burial ceremony.
“The following suspects have been arrested in connection with the case; Idoko Omoru, Eze Emmanuel, Obande Emmanuel, Ameh Peter, and Sunday. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the death and removal of internal organs.”
Okoro assured Benue people of his commitment to make sure that the good people of Benue State sleep with their eyes closed.
“Thank you for your continuous cooperation with the Police and I urge you to accord the same cooperation you have given to my predecessors to me so that we can work together for the peace of Benue State,” he said.
