Police parade kidnappers in security uniforms, rescue varsity don

Anambra State Police Command has paraded three out of a six-man gang of kidnappers, who operate from a border town of Umuaku-Isuochi in Abia State.

The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Echeng Echeng, who made this known while parading them at the Command’s headquarters, said the gang’s victim, a University professor, was rescued from them and his vehicle recovered.

He said: “ On Thursday, at about 7:50p.m., operatives from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Aguata while on stop-and-search duty at Afor Nnobi road intercepted three vehicles- one unmarked brown Lexus Jeep, a black Land Cruiser Prado Jeep with Registration Number GWA 696 CM, Abuja, and one Silver-ash coloured Lexus 350 with Registration Number EKY – 605GV Lagos.

“The operatives engaged the armed men in a gun battle but the latter were over-powered and arrested. Three of the gang members are suspected to belong to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the outlawed, self-determination group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“The arrested hoodlums are: Chinonso Offor, aka Wolf, 24, a native of Enugu State, resident in Ekwulọbịa; Hycent Ugwuike, 45, a native of Nsukka, resident in Onitsha; and Samuel Sunday Akpan, 31, from Akwa-Ibom but resident in Isuochi, Abịa State.

“The operatives recovered three AK47, two cell phones, two bulletproof vests, two Walkie Talkie radios, one Police uniform (camouflage), four AK47 Magazines, 120 live ammunition, one Police belt, one hand glove, a pair of Police boot, two Police caps, one military T-shirt and one blue Police uniform.”

The CP hinted that while the other gang members escaped the scene, three arrested suspects in custody confessed to the crime and their membership of the outlawed IPOB group.

They mentioned the various camps/criminal hideouts they operate from, including Umuaku- Isuochi, an Abia State’s border town with Owerre-Ezukala town in Anambra State.

The Commissioner noted that efforts are already in place to arrest the other fleeing gang members. Chukwumonso Offor and Ugwuike Hyacinth confessed to the crime, revealing that about 30 members are in their camp.

He disclosed that their commander gave items recovered from them to them.

In addition, they revealed how they move around to kidnap unwary members of the public before they were caught.

Narrating his ordeal, the University lecturer, recounted his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers, who, he said ambushed and kidnapped him about 5:00 p.m. until security operatives ran into his abductors.