By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A 12 year-old abduction victim has lost her life in a grueling gun battle between security operatives and kidnappers in Edo State.
The deceased was said to be among over 15 passengers kidnapped by hoodlums along the busy, but dangerous Fugar/Agenebode Road in Etsako East local council on July 11, 2025.
A statement from for the Edo state Police Command Spokesperson, Moses Iyamu, on Saturday, July 12, 2025 , informed that the teenager was fatally shot by the abductors in the process of exchanging fire with security operatives.
He, however, stated that 14 kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation which he said was conducted by a combined team of police personnel from the Agenebode Division local vigilantes and hunters.
“On 11/07/2025 at about 1920hrs , upon receiving a distress call that armed men blocked the Fugar-Agenebode road , Etsako East Local Government Area ,the Command immediately mobilized a combined team of police operatives from Agenebode , local vigilantes ,and hunters who responded swiftly and pursued the assailants into the forest.
“During the encounter, a gun duel ensued along Obe Hill by Pipeline leading to Ajaokuta, the security team successfully rescued fourteen (14) kidnapped passengers unhurt.
:Unfortunately, a 12 year old girl was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers during the crossfire”, Iyamu noted.
According to the Police, one female victim still remains unaccounted for after the rescue operation.
This is as the Command assured that efforts are underway to locate and bring her back.
The statement further noted that two of the commuters were shot dead by the gunmen, before the intervention of security personnel.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, while commending the efforts of the operatives, assured that all necessary machineries will be put in place to hunt down the hoodlums and bring them to justice.
He extended the Command’s condolences to the family , relations ,and friends of the deceased.
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