•Carpenter arrested for ‘defiling’ minor
• ‘Child seller’ held in Calabar
A kidnap suspect has been killed in a gun battle with the police in Utiuyo in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The suspect and his cohorts allegedly kidnapped Gabriel Abemu of Oviere community.
As they left with their victim, the suspects were intercepted by the Divisional Police Officer of Isiokolo, Iwok Ndifereke, who was accompanied by a patrol team.
A statement by police spokesperson Celestina Kalu said the patrol team caught up with the suspects at Utiuyo village, where they engaged them in a gun battle.
The statement reads: “On October 5, the DPO of Isiokolo Division, Iwok Ndifereke, received a distress call that a man, Abemu Gabriel, of Oviere community, who is a teacher with Oruodo Primary School, was kidnapped at Okpara.
“The DPO mobilised his men and blocked all exit routes in the area and went after the hoodlums with his patrol team.
“The patrol team caught up with the hoodlums at Utiuyo village.
“On sighting the policemen, the suspects opened fire on them. In the ensuing gun battle, one of the hoodlums was killed; the rest escaped and the victim rescued.
“The victim was taken to a hospital. He was in shock. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing criminals.”
The police have arrested a 39-year-old carpenter for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a two-year-old.
The suspect, Gbenga Anjorin, has a workshop in the compound where the minor lives.
The police spokesperson said the suspect was arrested in Okpanam community, Oshilimi North Local Government.
According to her, a male resident reported that his suspicion was aroused after his daughter started crying while urinating.
The victim’s father said after interrogating his daughter, he discovered that she had been raped.
Ms Kalu said the police arrested the suspect, who is now assisting them in their investigation.
The victim has been taken to hospital for treatment.
In Calabar, Cross River State, an unidentified young man was arrested yesterday for allegedly trying to sell his child.
The man, said to be in his 30s, it was gathered, had planned to sell the child at Gbogobiri, which is a Hausa settlement.
