Police uncover kidnap syndicate, arrest members in Imo
EMERGENCY DIGEST- An anti-kidnap unit of the police has arrested a nine-member kidnap syndicate said to be behind several abductions in Imo State.
The arrest was made at various hideouts of the suspects in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area following the abduction of two persons, Dominic Chukwuma and Silas Nnawubia, on April 30.
Police spokesman Michael Abattam said on Saturday that the kidnap victims were rescued unhurt.
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He said: “The police operatives on 5/5/2022 at about 2350 hours, stormed the kidnappers’ den and arrested one Obinna Onuoha aged 35 years, a native of Umuegwu Mpam, and Igbokwe Joseph aged 35 years, a native of Umuchoko Ihitte Aforukwu, both natives of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State. The victim held in captive was gallantly rescued unhurt.
In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime of kidnapping, revealing how they escaped from Imo Correctional Centre on April 5, 2021.
They said they got a safe hideout in Ahiazu Mbaise after their escape and formed a kidnap gang.
Abattam said the suspects took police operatives to their hideouts where most of their gang members were arrested.
He said items recovered included one AK47 rifle, breech number 1142 with 84 rounds of live ammunition, four locally-made pistols, 46 rounds of live cartridges, one Toyota 4Runner SUV belonging to the victim, multiple banks’ ATM cards stolen from their victims, and the personal belongings of the victim.
