Ebonyi Police parade 19 suspects for kidnapping, cultism others

The Ebonyi State Police Command on Friday, paraded a total of nineteen suspects for criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, vandalism and car snatching among other offences in the state.

Five suspected kidnappers that allegedly abducted one Barr. Igwe Chigozie at gunpoint in front of his residence at Goddy Ogbaga avenue in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital were among those apprehended.

Briefing journalist at the Police Headquarters Abakaliki, the State Police Commissioner, CP Awosola Awotinde said that the victim was kidnapped in his Toyota Corolla car with Reg number KRD 444 FE and taken to an unknown destination.

CP Awotinde said that operatives of Anti-kidnapping wing of operation puff adder immediately swung into action and the victim was rescued at Ukwuachi along Abakaliki/Enugu express road.

He stated that the kidnappers made away with the victim’s Samsung Galaxy Prime Core handset, his Toyota Corolla car and a cash sum of N2,500 adding that on the 19th of May, 2019, one Chibueze Okpara a 33 year old member of the kidnap gang was arrested at Nkwegu Army barracks mammy market by operatives of puff adder.

Read also: EFCC arrests suspect over disappearance of N90m

The CP noted that the arrest of Okpara led the police team to Enugu state where the kidnapper’s kingpin and other members of the gang namely Chinedu Okorie “31”, Chibuzor Onyia Onuigbo, “30”, Agbo Emmanuel “31” and Taoreed Folawewo, “39” were arrested at different locations in Enugu State.

According to the CP, items recovered from the gang included, one locally made revolver pistol with two live ammunition, an AK 47 ammunition, one expended ammunition used during the operation and a total number of seven cars.

The cars recovered included, Toyota Corolla with Reg number, NCA 990 AA, Mercedes Bemz S320 with Reg. number, AQ 01 AAA, Toyota Avalon XLE with Reg number ENU 302 EQ, Toyota Corolla with Reg number MA 08 APP.

Others are Innoson jeep with Reg number NKE 719 EV, Ford Escape with Reg number FGE 415 TN and Honda Odyssey with Reg number ENU 905 RA.

The Commissioner of Police during the briefing said that on 31st of May, 2019, one Friday Irem, a 30 year old male was attacked by a group of dreaded cultists/armed bandits who invaded and inflicted several machete cuts and abandoned him in the pool of his own blood.

According to the CP, upon receipt of the information, operatives of Operation Puff Adder moved to the scene, rescued the victim and rushed him to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki where he was however confirmed dead and his body deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Suspects arrested includes, Itumo Henry, Akoshi Chidera, Anthony Nwite, Onyebuchi Nwokporo, Usulor Sunday, Samuel Ngwuta, Abah Chukwudi Peter and the items recovered includes, 3 cutlasses and 2 Axes.

The CP said that on the 1st of June 2019, in a reprisal attack by rival group, one Ifeanyi Alegu was traced and murdered at Onueke. The corpse was also recovered and deposited at the same hospital mortuary and the perpetrators who were later identified to be AYES/Vikings confraternity were arrested.

Those arrested included, one Igwe Uchenna, Chukwu Eusebius, Usulor Augustine and Ugama Sunday.

The CP also revealed that on the 11st of May 2019, men of the Operation Puff Adder while on stop and search at Amasiri along market junction Afikpo North LGA arrested one Uro Ifeanyichukwu “21” years of Ezekwu Ezeke community and one locally made pistol was recovered from him.

The CP called on the owners of the recovered cars to come forward with genuine proof of ownership to claim them.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now