The nefarious activities of kidnappers and robbers in Delta state heightened at the weekend in a series of coordinated attacks across the state.
The attacks which took place separately left three persons dead, two others injured and a Navy commander abducted.
Even politicians were not spared as two chieftains of the People Democratic Party, PDP, national vice chair, South-South, Dr. Steve Oru and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, were reportedly ambushed by kidnappers but amazingly escaped being kidnapped.
It was learnt that, suspected kidnappers who tried in vain to kidnap Hon Ndudi Elumelu, killed his police aide.
The incident which occurred on Saturday, took place at the Eku/Abraka road at about 1.00 pm on Saturday.
Similarly, Lagos-based Navy Commander I. Mohammed, was attacked on his way from Warri to Port-Harcourt, along the East-West Road by a seven-man robbery gang.
The attackers opened fire on his vehicle and then ceased him and drove off in a waiting SUV. His orderly was said to have been hit by the gunfire and is in a critical condition.
For some unknown reasons, the attackers decided to unleash mayhem again downtown.
According to eyewitness reports, the gunmen were on their way to Warri but suddenly, they diverted to Agbarho.
The robbers threw caution to the wind and robbed unsuspecting travelers between Orhokpokpor-Agbarho and Uwiamughe-Agbarho on the East-West road.
They positioned themselves strategically, and attacked vehicles from both ends of the road, dispossessing their victims of their valuables.
It was gathered that an unidentified woman was shot dead by the robbers, as she attempted to escape into the bush.
Dr Steve Oru was reportedly shot in his back as he was trying to run into the bush to avoid been kidnapped. Unfortunately, his orderly who was simply identified as Ofor, was not as lucky as he was killed in an attempt to engage the bandits in a shootout. Many others also sustained bullet injuries as the armed robbers shot sporadically.
While confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba said that the suspected kidnappers had wanted to kidnap Oru and Elumelu, but the plot failed, as their aides fought bravely but were killed in the resulting battle.
He blamed a notorious kidnap suspect, Kelvin, who had been declared wanted by the police as being responsible for the spate of kidnap and robbery attacks in the state.
Aduba assured Deltans that the criminals will be fished out.
“It was unfortunate, the police, both junior and senior officers, are looking for them. You know, the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, gave us more vehicles and we have a special security patrol team working round the clock. We will get them” he said.
According to the commissioner, the Governor is currently reviewing the security measures put in place by government and is reportedly coming up with a new strategy which will be revealed in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, a 3-year-old pupil was kidnapped, Saturday, at about 2.00 p.m by unknown persons on his way back from his school, Green Height International School.
A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, identified as Akrigbe, was also shot dead on Saturday by suspected armed robbers, along Bomadi road in the state.