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A-12-year-old girl has been reportedly killed during a shoot out between the operatives of the Edo State Police Command and suspected kidnappers.
The girl was among passengers abducted by gunmen along the Fugar-Agenebode road, Etsako East Local Government Area on Friday, July 11, 2025.
The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
However, he said 14 victims were rescued after the shoot out.
Yamu said the deceased was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers during the crossfire.
He further disclosed that one female victim is still unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing to ensure her safe rescue.
The spokesman explained that the rescue operation was conducted by a combined team of operatives of the Command in Agenebode, local vigilantes and hunters who responded swiftly and pursued the assailants into the forest.
Yamu added that during the encounter, a gun duel ensued along Obe Hill by Pipeline leading to Ajaokuta, resulting in the successful rescue of 14 kidnapped passengers.
Parts of the statement read, “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.
“During the encounter, a gun duel ensued along Obe Hill by pipeline leading to Ajaokuta, the security team successfully rescued fourteen (14) kidnapped passengers alive. Unfortunately, a 12-year-old girl was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers during the crossfire.
“One female victim is still unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing to ensure her safe rescue
“This follows the report that armed men suspected to be kidnappers ambushed and blocked the highway, opened fire on unsuspecting commuters, killing two persons on the spot and abducting others in a brazen act of violence” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, commended the bravery and swift response of the combined security team.
He assured the public that everything possible is being done to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
While extending the Command’s condolences to the family of the deceased, the CP assured the general public that operations in the area have been intensified.
He stated that additional deployments have been made to prevent further attacks and track down the fleeing criminals.
Edo: 12-year-old girl killed in a shoot out between Police, kidnappers
