A 12-year-old girl has been killed during a shootout between Edo State Police Command operatives and suspected kidnappers along the Fugar-Agenebode road in Etsako East Local Government Area.
According to a statement released on Saturday by Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, the incident occurred on Friday, July 11, 2025, when armed men ambushed commuters on the highway.
The police spokesperson confirmed that while 14 kidnapped passengers were successfully rescued during the operation, the young girl was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers during the exchange of gunfire.
"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 mobilised a combined team of police operatives from Agenebode, local vigilantes, and hunters who responded swiftly and pursued the assailants into the forest," Yamu stated.
The rescue operation was conducted by a joint team comprising police operatives, local vigilantes, and hunters who pursued the kidnappers into the forest. A gun battle ensued along Obe Hill by pipeline leading to Ajaokuta, resulting in the rescue of the 14 abductees.
The police spokesman further revealed that one female victim remains unaccounted for, with search efforts ongoing to ensure her safe rescue.
Prior to the kidnapping, the armed assailants had reportedly killed two persons on the spot during their initial attack on commuters before abducting several others.
Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, commended the bravery and swift response of the combined security team while extending condolences to the family of the deceased girl.
The CP assured the public that operations in the area have been intensified with additional deployments made to prevent further attacks and track down the fleeing criminals. He emphasized that everything possible is being done to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in parts of Edo State, particularly along major highways where kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common.
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