The Imo State police command made a big haul during the week when operatives of the Anti -kidnapping Unit of the Imo stormed the dreaded Avu Forest in the Owerri West Local Government Area of the state and rescued three kidnap victims unhurt .
According reports, policemen equally arrested the victims’ suspected abductors, numbering seven, who held them for days without food and water in the bush.
Parading the suspects at the scene of the crime, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, said the victims were abducted on Saturday.
Enwerem gave the names of the suspects as Chukwuebuka Augustine , 22 , from Egbeada, Owerri; Romanus Ukabi, 28, from Isiagwu in Ebonyi State ; Ikechukwu Nwachukwu, 34, of the Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA and Chikamso Onyewuchi, 25, of Ejemekuru in the Oguta LGA of the state .
Others were Collins Nwaekwe, 24, of Obizi, Aboh Mbaise LGA, Chibuike Maduba, 26, of Umukoronekwenye and
Ikechukwu Okere, 20, of Umukoronopelu in the Ngor Okpala LGA of the state.
According to the police spokesperson , the kidnap victims Francis Ugorji of Awaka , Chika Ahanonu of Works Layout , Mbieri Road , in the Owerri North LGA and Chibuike Nwaozo of Awo- Omamma, of the Oru East LGA of the state were tied and blindfolded in the forest for days .
Enwerem said one Toyota Highlander belonging to one of the victims, which was used during the operation, was recovered.
DSP Enwerem said, “ In the early hours of Tuesday between 2am and 2 .30 am , operatives of the Imo State Anti -Kidnapping Unit stormed kidnappers’ hideout in the Avu Forest in the Owerri West LGA of Imo State in an effort to rescue three victims, who were kidnapped last Saturday.
“During the operation, the operatives were confronted by a gang of kidnap suspects, who were holding the three victims for ransom. In the heated operation, seven kidnap suspects were overpowered and arrested.
“Three kidnap victims, who were tied and blindfolded, were rescued in the forest unhurt and with exhibits recovered in the process.”
The police spokesperson said the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike , had ordered that all kidnappers ‘ hideouts in the state be ransacked .
“The CP is committed to eradicating kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and all forms of crimes in the state,” he added.
Meanwhile In a bid to curb the menace of cultists in the state the police in Imo has arrested 31 suspects. On 10/05/2017 at about 06 50hrs, operatives of Orji Police Division received a distress call that a group of cultists were rampaging at Orji Comprehensive Secondary School during initiation activity and were shooting indiscriminately. A combined team of operatives responded to the area. On sighting the police operatives, the hoodlums started shooting and fled to different locations. Thirty-one (31) suspected cultists were later arrested. The suspects are undergoing screening at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID)
The State Commissioner of Police CP Chris Ezike who coordinated the operation averred that cult related activities is a top priority in his road map to fighting crime and criminality in the state. He stated that those arrested would be charged to court after investigation.
According to the State Commissioner of Police
‘EXHIBITSS RECOVERED FROM THE SUSPECTS
THREE (3) VEHICLES USED IN CONVEYING THE CULT MEMBERS
RED FACE CAPS USED TO IDENTIFY THEIR MEMBERS
LAPTOPS, PHONES ‘SUSPECTS:
(1) ASUZU TOCHUKWU
(2) OKAFOR ANYANWU CHARLES
(3) CHIMEZIE NWANEZI
(4) ANAEFU CHIZOBA
(5) ENEGBA NELSON
(6) UMEH CHIMEZIE
(7) OBIJI OBUMNEKE
(8) UBANI LAWRENCE
(9) OKPARA CHIMEZIE
(10) AMOUHA IKENNA
(11) NJOKU CHIDI
(12) AJAEGBU GABRIEL GOLDEN
(13) ALAFORO WALTER
(14) AKPASUO CHIMEREIJEM
(15) OKPARA JUDE CHIJIKE
(16) UKACHI SAMUEL
(17) OKORIE CHRISTUS CANICE
(18) GABOH LUCKY
AND THIRTEEN (13) OTHERS
