Police Bust Notorious Kidnapping Syndicate Terrorizing Imo Communities and Rescue Victim

The Imo State Police Command has arrested five members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate terrorising the state and rescued a 26-year-old woman.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 22, 2024, said the victim was kidnapped from her residence in Obinze, Owerri West LGA last Sunday.

In response to the report of the kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, promptly deployed the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit with all available operational resources and intelligence to apprehend the suspects and ensure the safe rescue of the victim.

“Following the CP’s directives and directives and collection of actionable intelligence, the operatives targeted a forest hideout in Avu, where the suspects were located,”

“During the operation, the team successfully rescued the victim unharmed and arrested five individuals: the collection and arrested five suspects: Umaru Usman, 40, from Mauree in Sokoto; Tukur Yau, 25, from Dawakinkudur in Kano State; Musbau Sabo, 18, from Warsaw LGA in Kano State; Abdul Ibrahim, 30, from Sokoto State; and Jubrin Idris, 35, from Sokoto State.

“The suspects were found in possession of one pump-action gun, five cartridges, two daggers, a cutlass, and various criminal charms.”

ASP Okoye said interrogation revealed that the suspects were members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorising residents in Obinze, Avu, and surrounding areas while investigations aimed at apprehending the remaining members of the gang and ensuring they face the full extent of the law were ongoing.

In another development, police operatives arrested one Nwauba Alex, 25, from Ezza LGA, Ebonyi State, during its patrol in Owerri.

The suspect was caught in the act of robbing two residents at gunpoint near Aladinma Primary School, Owerri.

According to the PPRO, one locally made pistol, two rounds of live ammunition and torchlight were recovered from the suspect and the victims were rescued unharmed.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted to the robbery and revealed that he purchased the shotgun from an individual in Ezza, Ebonyi State,” the statement read.

“Efforts are underway to locate and arrest the gun manufacturers, who would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, urged the gallant officers not to relent in ensuring that crimes were reduced to the barest minimum in the state.