Effurun, Delta State – Tragedy struck in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday night, as gunmen reportedly killed two policemen and a driver in a failed attempt to abduct Mrs. Christy Uroye, wife of Augustine Uroye, the lawmaker representing Warri South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.
The incident, which occurred along the busy Jakpa Road, unfolded as the suspected kidnappers made a violent attempt to seize Mrs. Uroye, who was being escorted by the policemen in an SUV.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the armed men opened fire on the vehicle, killing the two officers and the driver during the ensuing struggle to kidnap the lawmaker’s wife.
Chaos erupted in the area as residents and passersby fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire. “People were running for their lives,” one witness recounted. “There was panic everywhere as the gunshots rang out.”
Despite the gunmen’s success in overpowering the security detail and taking Mrs. Uroye captive, their escape plan quickly unraveled. According to local sources, the kidnappers’ getaway vehicle was involved in an accident as they made a desperate attempt to flee with their victim.
The crash occurred not far from the scene of the attack, halting the gunmen’s escape and allowing security forces to intervene.
Mrs. Uroye was rescued from the wreckage of the crashed vehicle and is currently receiving treatment at a nearby private hospital. The extent of her injuries has not been disclosed, but sources close to the family confirmed that she is in stable condition.
Delta State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, describing it as a failed kidnapping attempt.
In a brief statement, Edafe said, “The operation was not successful.” He also revealed that three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle following the crash. However, he did not confirm if any arrests had been made in connection with the attack.
A family source who spoke to the media on the condition of anonymity corroborated the police’s account. “The kidnappers‘ vehicle got involved in an accident along the road, and that’s when the rescue happened.
Mrs. Uroye is now being treated at a hospital in the area,” the source said. The source declined to comment on whether the gunmen had been apprehended following the crash.
The brazen attack has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing concerns about the rising wave of violence in the region.
Local residents called for increased security presence and urged the authorities to intensify efforts to curb the growing threat of kidnapping and violent crime in Delta State.
As investigations into the attack continue, the Delta State Police Command has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident highlights the dangers faced by public figures and their families in regions plagued by insecurity, as well as the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
