Police Arrest 3 Suspects, Rescue 4 Kidnapped Victims

CHUKA UBAH

Operatives from the Imo State Police Command have rescued four kidnapped victims, who were abducted from their place of residence in Naze, in Owerri North Local Government area of Imo State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as made available to newsmen in Owerri by the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Hussaini Rabiu, through the Commands Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abattam.

He disclosed that following a report of kidnapped incident, which happened on 19th August, 2021, at about 1800 hours, by one Obinna Odika ‘M’ of Human Race Estate Naze in Owerri North LGA of lmo State, that his wife and three children namely; Chinenye Odika ‘F’ age 27 years, Chika Mark ‘F’ age 9 years, Chisom Mark ‘F’ age 14 years and Princess Odika ‘ F’ age 6 months all of Human Race Estate Naze , Owerri North LGA of Imo State, were kidnapped by unknown gun men in their Estate.

It revealed that the Imo State Command’s Control Room on getting the disturbing information immediately disseminated the report to all the Police formations and tactical units for prompt interception and arrest of the kidnappers .

The Command stated that on the same day, at about 2230 hours, luck ran against the kidnappers, when Ngor Okpala Police Division Patrol Team, on receipt of the report intensified its patrols and in the process intercepted and arrested three members of the kidnapping gang namely; Udochukwu Edmund ‘M’ age 38 years of Umuezu Onitsha Ezinihitte in Mbaise LGA of Imo State, Uba Edmund ‘M’ age 45 years of same address, John Okoroafor ‘ M ‘ age 33 years of Amucha Isu Njaba LGA of Imo State, and handed them over to the Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit for diligent investigation.

And upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and eventually led the Police to their hideout in a forest in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. On sighting the Police, they fired at them and the Police retaliated. In the gun duel, one of the kidnappers was neutralised while two other were arrested with bullet injuries.

The Command revealed that on searching their hideout, one pump action gun, three locally made pistols, fourteen rounds of live cartridges and three hundred and sixty-one thousand Naira (N361,000.00) suspected to be part of the ransom money collected were recovered.

Also recovered were one sea blue coloured Sienna vehicle with registration number IMO STATE, WER 969 ZE and a motorcycle with registration number KWE 310 QX used by the suspects in kidnapping the victims.

Speaking further, the Command hinted that on further interrogation, the arrested suspects revealed where the kidnapped victims were kept and led the Police tactical teams of the Command to Central Primary School, Mbutu Okeohia in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, where the four kidnapped victims were rescued safe, unhurt and have been reunited with their families.

It also revealed that the two injured suspects were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for medical treatment maintaining that efforts are on to arrest the remnants of the syndicate for prosecution.

However the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Hussaini Rabiu, commended the quick response of the Command’s officers and men and the gallantry exhibited in the rescue of the kidnapped victims, advised the good people of Imo State to always report incidents promptly to the police for timely intervention of the Command’s Quick Response Units.

The CP also admonished all Imolites to assist the Command with credible information and to report any suspicious activity observed within their environment to the nearest police station.