The Abia State police command has smashed three kidnap gangs. The success resulted from quickly following up on tip-offs from members of the public.
According to the police, two of the suspects, who were among 30 paraded, were nabbed in a hotel room as they were sharing the ransom paid by a victim’s family on July 27.
A military rifle and loads of ammunition used by another fleeing kidnapper were recovered after officers were led to a hospital where a suspect had died while being treated of bullet wounds he sustained during gun battle with the police. After the gun duel, a kidnap victim identified as Onyemaechi Mbamaonyeukwu Ijeoma was rescued.
Three members of a gang had earlier been killed on July 18 at Osisioma Ngwa, where they had abducted the Managing Director of Mba Hotels, Aba, and held him hostage at an uncompleted building in Umuajuju Ovungwu, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area while negotiating for ransom.
Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Adeleye Oyebade attributed the increasing success story of his men to the growing support from members of the public.
He said: “Operatives attached to the Command’s Dragon Squad in Aba, while acting on a tip off, arrested two men, Samuel Akoma and Kenneth Ananaba in a hotel room in Aba where the hoodlums lodged after collecting ransom to release their hostage. Two vehicles including that of the released hostage were recovered.”
A victim identified as Ijeoma Okereke was also rescued by the police from another gang of kidnappers at 1:00 p.m. on July 22.
Oyebade said: “The victim was rescued when PMF 55 men on nipping point duty, at Owerrinta acting on a tip-off, intercepted a 14-seater Mitsubishi L300 bus with registration number SB 639 WER painted white and green. They arrested the duo of Chinemere Amamba aged 39 and Nnamdi Monday, both from Nmelele Isiala Ngwa South.”
The victim identified as a student at Imo State University (IMSU) was abducted at 12 noon along Emekuku Junction, on Douglas Road Owerri.
On the suspected kidnapper found dead at a hospital, Oyebade said: “The deceased suspect identified as Charles Ndubuisi Nwaichi of Eziudo, Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo State was, on information, traced to Abia State Teaching Hospital in Aba where he was taken to by his brother, one Obioma Monday Nwaichi for treatment. He eventually gave up the ghost on July 22. Prior to this development, one Military-type AK 47 rifle with bayonet, double magazine and 10 rounds of live ammunition were recovered on July 24, during further combing of a bush in search of wounded suspects.”
Other suspects at the parade included burglars, cultists, motorcycle snatchers and members of various robbery gangs.
Oyebade said, “There was a robbery incident at Akwette in which a motorcyclist was shot by one of his Fulani passengers as he resisted attempt to snatch the motorcycle from him on June 20. The next day, one of the suspects was arrested following the combined efforts of the police and vigilance group in the area and one locally-made gun recovered.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. He said the gun belonged to his cohort, one Suleiman, who had used it to shoot the victim. Following the lead from the first suspect, Adamu Abubakar, the said Suleiman Muhammed from Zamfara State was arrested on July 14 at DE-DORIS Hotel, Omuma Igurita in Rivers State by operatives attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Obehie. The suspect has also confessed to the crime and both will be arraigned in court soon.”
It was gathered that two suspects identified as Ugochukwu Ugwumba, 22, and Goodnews Uwem, 18 were arrested after their gang allegedly snatched a N500, 000 handset, at gunpoint, from a lady who was receiving a call on the road.
Two others named as Onyekaozuru Emenike and Chibuzo Okoroafor were identified as members of a four-man gang that used machetes and daggers to snatch cash and GSM phones from three victims.
The police also revealed how a brave passenger had assisted them in smashing a gang of robbers when he grabbed one of them as they were escaping after raiding a commercial bus marked ETU 66 XA. The victims were said to be travelling to Arochukwu for a traditional wedding.
The suspect, identified as Maduabuchi Ekeleme, led detectives to a hide-out at Ubakala area in Umuahia South Local Government Area where a man identified as Bright Iroakazi, and two women, Chizoba Ede and Adaugo Onuoha were arrested at a hideout in possession of substance suspected to be Cocaine.
The police also paraded three suspected cultists accused of killing a man simply identified as Prince.
The suspects arrested by the Divisional Crime Officer, Isuochi, were identified as Samuel Chukwuemeka, Abdulazeez Mukaila and Obisike Ekezie, all members of ‘Red Barger’ confraternity.
Oyebade said: “The suspects have confessed to the crime; search was conducted in their houses during which the following items were recovered: three red caps, four bangles, two daggers, one Samsung TV with its remote.”
