The irresistible love for the proceeds of kidnapping has sent an ex-militant to the grave in Benin City after a gun duel with the police.

The ex-militant, Grikpa Louis, who recently passed out of the Presidential amnesty programme, an indigene of Ovia North-East, Edo State, was shot dead by the police on Monday during a gun duel with a gang of kidnappers.

Two of the suspected kidnappers, Waibi Amos Corper, 29 and Agbaro Ayimojo, 24 were arrested after the gun duel.

Two others, Boro Pereweri, 65, and Godson Ekpe 58, were also apprehended as accomplices after they had allegedly abducted two young men from Eweda village in Ogba near Benin City.

According to police sources, the two young men who were abducted, were working on their elder sister’s building site at Ewodia, along the Ogba area, a suburb of Benin. A ransom of N50 million has been placed on them.

Luck however ran out on the kidnappers when the police mobilised and rescued the victims at Iguikpe Waterside, close to the Ogba Zoo Road, Benin. Edo State Police Command’s acting Public Relations officer, Awhara Ejororo, said the command got information at about 2pm concerning their activities.

Search still on

He explained that the Command immediately contacted the nearest station, to mobilise to the scene of the crime. He revealed that the station engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel, which one of them was killed, while three others were arrested.

Mr Ejororo further explained that the kidnappers had already ferried their victims across the river on a boat, but with the efforts of the youth of the area, the police successfully disorganised them.

He also revealed that the police have recovered the vehicle the kidnappers used to convey their victims, adding that the search for the other five members of the gang is still on.