An Owerri woman kidnapped together with her four children on August 19 have been rescued from their abductors by the police.
The woman, Chinenye Odika, 27, and her children, Chika Mark, 9, Chisom Mark, 14, and Princess Odika, 6 months old, all of Human Race Estate Naze, Owerri North LGA of Imo State, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen from their Estate.
The Imo State Police command said immediately the incident was reported to the police by the husband and father of the victims, Obinna Odika, command’s Control Room disseminated the report to all the police formations and tactical units for prompt interception and arrest of the kidnappers.
The spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Michale Abattam, said the efforts of the police paid off as the suspects were apprehended.
”On the same day at about 2230 hours, luck ran against the kidnappers, when the ever-active Ngor Okpala police Division Patrol Team on receipt of the report intensified its patrols and in the process intercepted and arrested three members of the kidnapping gang namely; Udochukwu Edmund ‘M’ age 38 years of Umuezu Onitsha Ezinihitte in Mbaise LGA of Imo State, Uba Edmund ‘M’ age 45 years of the same address, John Okoroafor ‘ M ‘ age 33 years of Amucha Isu Njaba LGA of Imo State, and handed them over to the Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit for diligent investigation.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and led the tactical teams to their hideout in a forest in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State.
“On sighting the police, they fired at them and the police retaliated.
“In the gun duel, one of the kidnappers was neutralised while two others were arrested with bullet injuries. On searching their hideout, one pump action gun, three locally made Pistols, fourteen rounds of live cartridges and three hundred and sixty-one thousand Naira (#361,000.00) suspected to be part of the ransom money collected were recovered.
“Also recovered are one sea blue coloured Sienna vehicle with registration number IMO STATE, WER 969 ZE and a motorcycle with registration number KWE 310 QX used by the suspects in kidnapping the victims,” Abattam said.
Abattam said the suspects later told the police team where the kidnapped victims were kept and led them to Central Primary School, Mbutu Okeohia in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, where the four kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.
He said the two injured suspects were taken to the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, for medical treatment while efforts are on to arrest the remnants of the syndicate for prosecution.
Credits: Police
