Bello Kontongs, spokesperson of the police command, in a statement on Saturday, said the suspected kidnappers attacked the vehicle on the Benin-Lagos bypass on Friday.
Kontongs disclosed that arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects, while five kidnap victims were rescued.
According to theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he revealed that three of the victims were abducted from the vehicle conveying the corpse, while two others had earlier been kidnapped by the gang.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Egba Division, SP John Emmanuel, mobilised operatives and the local vigilance group for immediate bush-combing,” the statement reads.
“They advanced into the nearby Ute Forest, and after hours of bush-combing, they came across the suspected kidnappers who opened fire on them.
“The operatives engaged the suspects in a gun duel, which made the latter to abandon the victims.
“Two of the suspects, Mohammed Ishaku (25) and Mubarak Wada (26), were arrested while others escaped into the thick forest with bullet wounds.
“Three locally-made guns, two live cartridges, two cutlasses and some charms were also recovered from the suspects.”
The police spokesman added that the rescued victims have been taken to the hospital, and efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects who escaped.
